IMAGINE week: "Grateful to donors who helped my education dream"

Monday, 05 June 2017

Suzan Lupai grew up in South Sudan and is currently studying here, thanks to our donors. The country has a long history of civil war and political unrest; the conflict still affects its people today.

Suzan and her family were displaced several times during her childhood, but she was determined to get an education. The first thing she did when she was displaced was to sign up for to a new school.

She managed to get a degree and eventually found herself working in agriculture and food security. However, she wanted to do more to help her community, so she spent years applying for financial support to further her studies.

Suzan was beginning to lose hope, but last year she got the amazing news that there was a place for her at the University of Reading.

She wants to be a role model for her three little girls. "I want to show them how education can help to make you a better person. It is difficult for many people in South Sudan; every day you fear for yourself and your family. People get scared. You can't always control what happens, but you can control how you act in bad situations." Education gave her a reason to keep going, the ability to support her family and help her community.

"I cannot thank those who helped me along the way enough. Without your help I would not be studying at Reading. Students like me rely on your generosity."

IMAGINE

IMAGINE is the University of Reading's first Fundraising and Volunteering Campaign. The support received through the IMAGINE campaign is making an impact on special projects and our areas of internationally recognised research, stretching from our student support programmes to our work in Mental Health, Climate Change, Nutrition & Health and Business. IMAGINE will enable the generosity of our supporters to achieve the greatest impact through the work of the University.

If you would like to support students like Suzan, please donate to our Enabling Students programme: https://alumni.reading.ac.uk/imaginegift