Bringing education back to his village...

Growing up in a small, remote village where quality education was scarce, Yusak witnessed firsthand the struggles that children faced in accessing even basic learning. His village often lacked teachers, and the schools were under-resourced, leaving many young students without the support they needed to thrive. It was these challenges that ignited Yusak’s passion for education and set him on a path to pursue a degree in teaching.

"In our village, access to good education was very limited, and we often didn’t have enough teachers," Yusak explains. "Seeing how difficult it was for the children to get a proper education inspired me to study in the field of education. I wanted to make a real difference."

Supported by a scholarship from Atlas Pearls, Yusak was able to attend university, specializing in language education. "The scholarship allowed me to focus fully on my studies. Without it, I would’ve had to find a side job to help cover my costs," Yusak shares. "It gave me the freedom to dream bigger."

Armed with new knowledge and skills, Yusak returned to his village determined to improve the education system. One of his first initiatives was organizing workshops to train local teachers, many of whom had never received formal training in modern teaching methods. "I realized that many of the teachers hadn’t had access to the latest teaching techniques," Yusak recalls. "I wanted to help them develop their skills and bring new,more engaging methods to the classroom."

The benefits to the village were immediate. Students began to thrive in the newly energized learning environment, while teachers embraced the updated methods.

But Yusak didn't stop at teacher training. He also led a community effort to renovate the local school, which had long suffered from poor conditions.

“Our classrooms were very basic and didn’t provide the right environment for learning," Yusak explains. "With the help of the community and some generous donors, we renovated the classrooms, added new desks and chairs, and stocked up on books and other learning materials. The kids were so excited when they saw the changes."

The impact of Yusak’s efforts has been felt far beyond the classroom walls. Parents in the village have expressed their deep gratitude for his work, seeing firsthand how their children’s lives are being transformed. "One mother came to me with tears in her eyes," Yusak recalls. "She said, ‘Our children now have a proper place to learn and dream.’ That moment meant everything to me."

Yusak’s work continues today, not only as a teacher but also as a leader in curriculum development for the village’s primary school. His commitment to education has inspired a new generation of young people in the village
to pursue higher learning, helping to create a brighter future for the entire community.

“Teaching is more than just a job for me; it’s a chance to uplift my village, one student at a time," Yusak says. "With the improvements we’ve made, our students are now learning important life skills, like computer literacy and foreign languages. We’re preparing them for a better future."

 "The changes we’ve made have created a strong culture of learning in our village. It’s my hope that more young people will pursue higher education and return to give back, just like I did."

Written by Cath Witten