By Ndinayo Rebecca and Brenda Odhiambo
When Ndinayo Rebecca arrived at Kyangwali Refugee Settlement in Uganda, her future seemed uncertain. As a refugee from the Democratic Republic of Congo, she faced the harsh reality that many displaced people know too well: shrinking resources, overcrowded conditions, and diminishing hope for higher education.
“The number of new arrivals increased every now and then, which caused the United Nations and Office of the Prime Minister to re-divide the small piece of land distributed to households,” Rebecca recalls. “The monthly food supply dropped from $10 to $3 per person, shrinking my hope of attaining a university education,” she added. But that changed when Rebecca joined the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at USIU-Africa, where she graduated last year with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, an achievement that she credits as transformative for not only herself, but her community.
During her undergraduate journey, Ndinayo gained both academic and professional exposure that prepared her for life beyond the classroom. As part of the Program’s preparation pathway, Mastercard Foundation Scholars were encouraged to undertake a prepare-level internship after their second year. Motivated by this guidance, Ndinayo actively applied for internship opportunities whenever she encountered them.
She completed her internship at Planning for Tomorrow Youth Organization in the Kyangwali Refugee Settlement, where she worked within the Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Department. The experience allowed her to apply her psychology training directly within her community. Following her coursework, she secured employment at Congolese Initiative for Youth and Orphans Transitional Association (CIYOTA), where she currently serves as an Executive Assistant.
Reflecting on her preparation for the workplace, Ndinayo credits the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program’s holistic approach to learning and development. Transformative leadership training played a key role in strengthening her communication skills, confidence, and ability to lead change. These experiences inspired her to return to her community and contribute to its transformation through meaningful work. Practical coursework, a personalized support learning environment that ensured dedicated and meaningful faculty-student interactions, mentorship, comprehensive support services that ensured she succeeds and thrives, and community service at USIU-Africa, further reinforced her readiness, while her eagerness to learn and grow helped her navigate the transition into a professional environment.
The transition from student to professional wasn’t without its obstacles, which for her included resource limitations, the emotional strain of adapting to a new work environment, and the challenge of navigating professional expectations with limited work experience. “For me to navigate these challenges, I relied on supervision, peer support, and openness to learning, which made a significant difference,” she says.
The impact of her internship and subsequent employment has been profound. Professionally, the experience strengthened her confidence and clarified her career path in mental health and community development. During her internship, she supported young mothers affected by COVID-19, contributing to improved mental health awareness and resilience within the refugee community. Today, through her work at CIYOTA, she is part of a team supporting thousands of young refugees to access quality education, leadership development, and social entrepreneurship skills, empowering them to become changemakers in their communities. Financially, it enabled her to achieve independence, allowing her to meet her basic needs and support her family. Looking ahead, she plans to further her education to deepen her expertise and expand her impact.
Her advice to students preparing for internships or employment is simple: remain open to learning, be proactive in seeking opportunities, and have confidence in the value of lived experience. To partners and employers, Ndinayo reiterates that investing in refugee talent builds resilient leaders and skilled professionals deeply committed to uplifting their communities and driving lasting change.
