Empowering South Sudan’s Next Generation
At the Padoc Area Scholars Society (PASS), we are unlocking potential in one of the world’s most underserved regions. South Sudan remains the poorest country on Earth, and while thousands of its youth graduate high school each year, few can afford to attend college. PASS exists to change that reality. We offer the ONLY full-ride college scholarship program exclusively for South Sudanese youth, especially young women, dedicated to helping them escape extreme poverty through education, access, and opportunity.
PASS is more than a scholarship provider. We are a movement of hope, dignity, and opportunity for South Sudanese youth, especially young women who have been left behind by poverty and conflict. Our work begins with access to education, but it reaches far beyond. We are building a future where the next generation can learn, lead, and lift their communities from within.
Join us. The future of South Sudan depends on it.
Why Our Work Matters
Per capita income in South Sudan: $455 (6.5 times lower than Haiti’s $3,108)
Number of children not attending school in South Sudan: 2.8 million, which is more than 70% of children, mostly girls.
Average cost to fund one student’s tuition for a full year: $450
Number of students PASS supported in 2024 - 2025: over 230
Percentage of donations that go directly to students: over 95%
Our New Goal: Shifting the Future by Educating Girls
In South Sudan, too many girls are left behind when it comes to education. In households where only one child can attend school, families often choose sons, leaving daughters with limited opportunities and a future shaped by poverty, early marriage, and dependency.
At PASS, we are changing that.
We are intentionally prioritizing girls in our scholarship program, not because they are less capable, but because they have been given fewer chances. We believe that when girls learn, families, communities, and entire nations thrive.
This year, PASS will award more scholarships to girls than boys, closing the gender gap in higher education and unlocking the potential of South Sudan’s next generation of women leaders.
Steve Evans, South Sudanese Women, licensed under CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.