Mari’s Story

“As someone who has personally lived through the challenges and traumas that refugees and immigrants face, I want their voices to be heard, their stories to be told."

I was born in Wau, a village near the Nile River in South Sudan. My childhood was destroyed by the country’s second civil war that lasted from 1983 to 2005. Our family had to flee our home, taking only what we could carry. But we were among the lucky ones. There were mass killings, widespread famine; over a million people died in this conflict.

For the next two decades I was a refugee, living stateless in shared homes, run-down apartments, often on the move, scared and never certain whether the next destination would be safe. 

Despite our difficult times, my mother, a former nurse, was always helping other refugees. No matter how difficult our situation, she would do her best to take care of others in need. From her I discovered how much helping others is a part of my soul’s mission.

My own personal journey from South Sudan to Egypt to the United States is the story of so many global children who are forced to flee their country because of war, violence, persecution and economic hardships. It heightened my awareness and sensitivity to the shared suffering of others. It also deepened my commitment to provide the support and opportunities for immigrants and refugees to develop to their fullest potential. And the key to this, as it was for myself, is education. 

It is only through education that a person can live in this world with dignity and reach their full potential. We don’t need more refugee camps. We need more schools, which not only enables children to learn, but a chance to children. And schools bring life to a dying village.

I began advocating through organizations like UNICEF to empower displaced children. I also spoke at United Nation conferences and to world leaders, sharing my story and why an educational investment in children is so vital to their future and ours. 

But I soon realized the best way to accomplish this was through an organization that focuses at the grassroots level. That is why I started New York-based Stand For Education, a global platform to enrich and empower displaced women and children through art and education. I have since devoted my career to giving voice and opportunities to refugees and immigrants throughout the world. As an international model, actor and DJ, I have also used these platforms to bring greater support and awareness, and, through sharing my story, I discovered the power of storytelling. Sharing my story creates a human connection—that refugees are men, women and children deserving the same dignity and respect as any person. They are like me. They are like you.

I chose the name, Stand for Education, because education means enlightenment. It provides the opportunity for people to have hope and dignity. Education enables you to discover who you really are and what you are capable of. It can be as simple as reading a book, or even a sentence. You discover something about yourself and the world you live in. That’s what Stand for Education is about: discovery, enlightenment, knowledge.