Invest in 16 Women Leaders Annually

Introduction

We remain committed to our mission of building professional capacity and providing much-needed services to communities we serve in South Sudan. The Female Student Internship Program (FSIP) aligns with this mission by fostering leadership skills, self-confidence, and a strong sense of civic responsibility in selected interns, thereby preparing them to become agents of positive change and future leaders who will contribute significantly to South Sudan’s social, economic, and political development.

The Female Internship Program is a transformative three-month initiative designed to support and nurture the leadership potential of young South Sudanese women in their final year of university and those who have recently graduated. Through a highly competitive selection process, the program provides selected female students with hands-on experience across various sectors, mentorship opportunities, skill development, and networking platforms.

In the fourth cohort, eight (08) students were selected from universities in Uganda and Kenya, after a rigorous review and assessment process. The program started on 4^th January 2025 and ran through 4^th April 2025. Initially, sixteen (16) applicants were shortlisted for interviews, and only eight (08) were admitted into the program after meeting the requirements from a pool of over fifty (50) applications. Of the eight selected, five (62.5%) completed all the internship requirements, two (25%) transitioned into new roles elsewhere, while one (12.5%) dropped out due to studies.

In the fifth cohort, which ran from 14^th April to 14^th July 2025, another eight internees were onboarded after a rigorous selection process, but only two (25%) completed the internship program, while the other six (75%) all dropped out due to personal reasons.

Objectives of the Activity

• To enhance the leadership skills, self-confidence, and civic responsibility of the selected female South Sudanese finalist students or fresh graduates from higher institutions of learning within and outside the country, equipping them to become influential change agents and contributors to the nation's social, economic, and political development.
• To provide the selected young women with a three-month hands-on experience in communications, project management, finance and administration coupled with mentorship and networking opportunities, fostering their professional growth and preparing them for impactful roles in their communities and beyond.

Beneficiaries’ Quotes

“I was guided on how to draft a comprehensive income statement for EFSS for the first quarter of 2025,” said Juan Annet. “I have also improved my skills in financial software management (especially QuickBooks),” she added.

For Rejoice Martin, “The internship has been productive, marked by important strides in refining her career while learning student registration processes and ensuring records are well-organised.”

“I gained some presentation skills and a boost in confidence at the teachers’ workshops,” said Juru Bianka, “I have also got the knowledge and the skill of reviewing job applications and conducting interviews after being engaged in the process for the next cohort,” she added.

Main Achievements

• Though the fifth cohort of the internship suffered a very high dropout rate, the fourth cohort was a great success with 62.5% of the selected interns being able to complete the program requirements with a strong commitment to it.
• Five of the sixteen interns secured new roles between one and three months after completion of the internship program.
• The interns reported adequate networking opportunities with individuals during cluster meetings and teachers’ workshops.
• The full interns’ involvement in organizational activities contributed to project achievements, while their selfless participation in networking and growth opportunities earned notable appreciation.

Challenges and Lessons Learned

• Some of the interns faced mobility challenges due to long distances to the venues where workshops were conducted. Transport issues in terms of expenses to travel to workshop places and data purchases.
• A few interns felt that they had limited time to balance the activities of the organisation and their personal commitments.
• Admitting students from within the universities of South Sudan continues to be a challenge because they do not show up for interviews, though they’re selected.  The organisation should develop better strategies to support the onboarding of students from within South Sudan-based institutions for the internship.

Recommendations and Way forward

• The organisation should allocate some petty cash for emergencies to address mobility challenges faced by interns for in-person movements.
• There is a continued need to incorporate a more tailored mentorship program during the internship, which enables the female interns to learn many aspects of the work environment, including workplace ethics.
• The interns should be engaged so much in outreach programs within local communities that the organisation serves to equip them with presentation, facilitation and the ability to support other young people, hence enabling the interns to build their professional relationships.
• The organisation should include at least one student from within the universities or institutions in South Sudan in each cohort of the program.

Links:

• FSIP Cohort V Call for Applications
• FSIP Cohort IV Call for Expression of Interest
• Intern Sonia Megimega shares her first month experienship

• FSIP Cohort IV & V Full Narrative Report (PDF)