Thowiba Alhaj

Over 21 million of Sudan’s 36 million people are youth. Many of them are
unemployed students or uneducated laborers. Thowiba and her team at
Jump Up Sudan are seeking to combat that norm. Jump Up pairs students
with employers to provide opportunities to gain experience during their
education. These jobs address two issues with the Sudanese education
system: first, students need more skills to prepare them for entering the
workforce; secondly, working while in school should be a social norm to
enable better access.
Thowiba has experienced these challenges firsthand as a medical student.
Several years ago, her father became ill. It was difficult to watch their father
struggle to support the family while her able brothers could only focus on
their studies. This spurred Thowiba into action.
Jump Up is changing the minds of young people and employers to allow
for social change in Sudan. Employers are learning the powerful impact
that youth can have upon their businesses, and students are made aware
that these opportunities exist. Their vision is to expand, influencing more
students and employers. Thowiba’s ambition is to complete her medical
studies and show that young women can be successful role models in
business.

very young entrepreneuranzisha prize fellowanzisha prizeafrican leadership academymastercard foundation2017