Meet Agnes, lover of learning and Amala alumna

This Amala Impact Story was produced by students from St Joseph’s Institution International (SJII), Amala partner school.

Agnes is an alumna of the Amala Global Secondary Diploma Programme who developed a passion for nursing. She has been studying and working in the health sector ever since. She first discovered Amala through her friends and the educators whom they had learnt from, and with a supportive push, she applied for Amala.

During her time at Amala, she became more and more curious about the communities she’d worked with. Her enjoyment of collaborating with others has helped her engage with the Amala programme. In addition, working with various people enabled her to learn about different ethnic groups and cultural behaviours, equipping her with the skills to interact with people of diverse backgrounds. 

Agnes felt like her time at Amala has had a great impact on her life. She especially enjoyed being able to work with people, gain knowledge, and master a variety of skills. Her impression of Amala was that it “gives hope to the hopeless”, helping displaced refugees to access education and improve their lives. She felt that her Personal Interest Project, where she aimed to find foster parents for orphans, was very impactful as the orphans were able to have someone who looked after them.

Despite the challenges that Agnes faced during the course, such as the long distance she had to travel to classes and the limited access to internet in Kakuma Camp, Agnes persevered with the Amala course, as it gave her the opportunity to both fuel and fulfil her thirst for knowledge. 

“When I find something new within an area I’m working in, I’m very curious to learn about it, as I used to in Amala.”

Agnes graduating with her Global Secondary Diploma in February 2024

Post-graduation, Agnes has been able to apply what she learnt at Amala to her life. Through the programme, she developed teamwork skills and adaptability, allowing her to enter the world of nursing. Now working in a hospital as an assistant nurse, Agnes uses the skills and knowledge from Amala as a way to “give back to the community.” 

For Agnes, Amala was not just a stepping stone; she deeply appreciates what Amala has done, especially for giving her an opportunity to gain a whole new life-changing experience. Although she misses working and sharing opinions and ideas with the Amala community, she hopes to utilise the skills from Amala to give back to the people and the environment where she gained the skills from.