Yar Ayuen Mach’s life journey is a remarkable testament to the power of dreams, and the persistence and dedication to make them reality.

Yar’s family was displaced from their home in South Sudan by the ongoing conflicts there. The family lived in the UN Kakuma refugee camp in Kenya for 18 years, and Yar was born and raised in the camp.

“Education for girls was not a priority and child marriages were very common,” she says. “Even so, I never stopped dreaming of wanting to go to university and being a role model for many young girls back in the refugee camp.”

With the help of the Summerland Refugee Sponsorship Group, Yar’s family resettled to the South Okanagan in November 2021. At 16, Yar began a new chapter in her life, and focused her energies on achieving her dream of going to university.

Thanks to her hard work, Yar is now attending the University of Victoria in their Social Sciences program. “My ultimate goal is to specialize in artificial intelligence, aiming to contribute to advancements that can address global challenges such as healthcare accessibility and climate change mitigation.”

Yar’s sporting passion is basketball, and her skills on the court were recognized by the university in a big way. “I received a Women’s Basketball scholarship that will cover my tuition,” she said in her bursary application.

She also noted that tuition is just one of many costs for a university student. “I am planning to work part time while studying but I am afraid the money I will be making might not be enough to cover my living expenses.”

“Our bursary applicants often express worries about paying for things like residence fees, school supplies and transportation,” says Kevin Ronaghan, Manager of Grants & Community Initiatives. “A Foundation bursary helps alleviate some of these worries, allowing these talented students to concentrate more fully on their studies.”

Yar received a Foundation bursary award from the Dr. John & Kathy Scarfo Bursary Fund, and that support made a big impact. “This is going to make a huge difference for me in my first year of university,” Yar says in her thank you note for the award. “I hope that one day, I’ll be able to achieve my dreams and give back to our community in a meaningful way.”

Yar is now finishing her first year at UVIC and has discovered psychology as a new passion. “I’m really interested in psychology because I like studying human behaviour, particularly the concepts of developing deep self-awareness and understanding other people.”

Yar’s strength of character shines when talking about her life so far. “My journey has not been without its challenges. Despite these obstacles, I have remained steadfast in my commitment to academic excellence. My experiences have instilled in me a resilience and determination that drive my academic and career aspirations.”