Naka Kerba | South Sudan, Emis Alumni

 

The FAU Leon Charney Diplomacy Program Scholarship Recipient, Oct-Nov 2019

”I may have had no control over the many unfortunate events that have happened in my life, but I know I do have control over who I am today and who I would like to become in the future. From October to December it is my honor to be a part of The Leon Charney diplomacy program at Florida Atlantic University as the ambassador for the Charney Resolution Center. This is a very big opportunity for me in which I intend to learn as much as I can and have the best possible experience.

How do I summarize the last few weeks that changed my life? As the CRC ambassador to the Leon Charney Diplomacy Program at FAU, I was able to make great academic strides and learned the importance of taking steps towards self-betterment. I managed to make new friends, reunite with my long-lost family, and as a bonus, gain a whole new family with the Burkarts. I am very grateful for the chance to have prepared for the NMUN program with Professor. Jeffery Morton. Under his guidance, I learned the importance of preparing the younger generation for future leadership. Having programs like NMUN that enable us to discuss important worldly topics such as plastic marine pollution and illegal wildlife trade are helpful in getting us to understand that despite the complexities of the world and our differing views, we must sometimes put all of that aside in order to compromise for the sake of a better planet.
    
I am humbled and honoured to take part in this experience of becoming an ambassador for the Charney Center. Thank you for this once in a lifetime opportunity. By exploring more about the world of diplomacy, I am certain that I can apply the tools that I will learn to my own country and hopefully lead it to change within the eyes of my people.” —Naka Kerba

 

Encouragement workshop for South Sudanese Refugees | October 2020


In Collaboration with the Women from “Helping Hand” in Tel-Aviv  (מסיל"ה ראשי תיבות: מרכז סיוע ומידע לקהילה הזרה) ,

Naka felt troubled by the fact that many asylum seekers (mainly women) often do not have the tools to advance their education after high school, and all they have left is to get married and work as cleaning ladies. The cruelty of reality does not really give them a fair chance to find opportunities to develop themselves, and that’s what Naka wishes to change. She wants to help them find their voice, their talents and valuable skills, by working alongside the feminist clinics in Haifa and Tel Aviv that lead workshops for refugees and advocate for the needs of marginalized communities.

Below her first progress report on the Journal October 27.
“I have always been taught about the importance of education and the power it can have on our lives. Many people are fortunate enough in life to be in the right environment that encourages them and provides them with the right recourses in order to acquire any sort of education, no matter how high. However, just as many young people grow up without knowing the advantages of having such privilege. Here in Israel, most young asylum seekers only get to finish high school and their further dreams seem almost impossible unless one is lucky. For me, having the privilege and luck in my case to pursue a higher education inspired me to try and help girls younger than me in the same situation. The most important thing a person needs to start anything is to have encouragement and support, knowing that there are people standing right behind you or have gone through the journey alongside you to help you feel stronger. I have assembled a small group of girls that have dreams and nowhere to turn. They will be able to receive a mentorship and the help they need to make their dreams come true. I hope with the success of this project will help to create a better path for us girls.” — Naka
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AMBASSADOR NAKA KERBA | South Sudan, EMIS Alumni

She graduated from EMIS in 2016 with academic excellence and is now enrolled at the Interdisciplinary Center working on a BA in Government Diplomacy. Instead of dwelling on the hardships of her life, she focused on her education and broadened her impact in the world at large.

“By exploring more about the world of diplomacy, I am certain that I can apply the tools that I will learn to my own country and hopefully lead it to change within the eyes of my people.” — Naka Kerba

Other Activities:

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