How Jacob Deng Bol Deng, a South Sudanese Scholar, Secured a Bachelor's in Agricultural Science at EARTH University Through the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program

My name is Jacob Deng Bol Deng, a South Sudanese agricultural scientist, youth leader, and education advocate. My journey to EARTH University in Costa Rica through the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program is a story of opportunity, determination, learning, and the responsibility to create opportunities for others.

I have always believed that education can do more than change an individual life. It can transform families, strengthen communities, and open possibilities for generations.

That belief has shaped my journey.

When Opportunity Met Preparation

My journey to EARTH University began with a simple but powerful desire: to learn, grow, and acquire the knowledge and skills I could use to contribute to my community.

I discovered the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program while exploring opportunities for young people who wanted to pursue higher education. At the time, I did not know exactly where the journey would take me, but I knew I had to take the first step.

I applied.

A friend supported me in submitting my application, and I gave the process everything I had. When I received the news that I had been selected as a Mastercard Foundation Scholar at EARTH University, it was an unforgettable moment.

It was more than an admission letter.

It was an invitation to imagine a bigger future.

I was going to study in Costa Rica, at a university known for experiential learning, leadership, entrepreneurship, agriculture, and sustainable development.

I was ready to learn.

Why EARTH University?

Agriculture has always felt deeply connected to my purpose.

Growing up in South Sudan, I saw the importance of agriculture in people's lives. It provides food, livelihoods, employment, and opportunities for communities to become more resilient.

I wanted to understand how agriculture could be used not only to produce food, but also to create sustainable livelihoods and solve real community challenges.

EARTH University gave me an environment where I could turn that curiosity into knowledge and practice.

My education was highly practical. I learned by doing, experimenting, working with others, engaging with communities, and solving real problems.

I explored areas including sustainable agriculture, agricultural innovation, hydroponics and aquaponics, entrepreneurship, leadership, and natural resource management.

The experience taught me to look at challenges differently.

Instead of asking only, “What is the problem?”, I learned to ask:

“What can we build from here?”

That mindset has stayed with me.

More Than a Degree

At EARTH, I gained much more than academic knowledge.

I became more confident in my ability to lead, collaborate, communicate, innovate, and turn ideas into action.

I worked with farmers, students, educators, and other young leaders from different backgrounds. Each interaction expanded my understanding of what is possible when people bring different experiences and ideas together.

My academic journey culminated in a Bachelor's degree in Agricultural Science and Natural Resource Management.

But my proudest achievement was not simply graduating.

It was discovering what I could do with the knowledge I had gained.

Turning Opportunity into Impact

The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program gave me access to an education that transformed my perspective. I wanted that transformation to extend beyond myself.

That motivation strengthened my commitment to Education Needs All (ENA), a youth-led organization working to expand access to education, skills, mentorship, scholarships, entrepreneurship, and employment pathways for young people.

I began asking myself:

What if the opportunity I received could become an opportunity for someone else?

That question continues to guide my work.

Through Education Needs All, we have reached thousands of young people with scholarship guidance, mentorship, digital skills, leadership development, and pathways to further education and employment.

I have seen young people discover opportunities they did not know existed, apply for universities and scholarships, develop new skills, and begin imagining futures that once seemed distant.

That is what makes my scholarship journey meaningful to me.

The impact did not stop when I graduated.

It multiplied.

What Made My Application Stand Out?

Looking back, I believe my application was strongest when I communicated three things clearly:

• My purpose.
• My potential.
• And my commitment to impact.

I did not want the scholarship simply to be the next step in my education. I wanted it to be part of a larger journey of learning, leadership, and service.

I shared what I had already done, what I wanted to learn, and how I hoped to use that knowledge.

My advice to applicants is therefore simple: do not underestimate your own story.

You do not need to have achieved everything.

• Show your curiosity.
• Show your commitment.
• Show what you have already contributed.
• And most importantly, show what you hope to build with the opportunity.

What I Would Do Differently

If I were applying again, I would begin even earlier and spend more time researching universities and scholarship programs.

I would also speak to more people who had successfully gone through similar processes and seek feedback on my application.

But I would keep one thing exactly the same:

I would apply.

Sometimes the most important step is simply deciding to believe that the opportunity is possible.

A Message to Future Scholars

If you are thinking about applying for a scholarship, I want you to know that opportunities often begin with a decision.

• A decision to search.
• A decision to prepare.
• A decision to apply.
• And sometimes, a decision to try again.

Do not wait until you feel completely ready.

• Start with what you have.
• Tell your story honestly.
• Be clear about your purpose.

And think beyond what the opportunity can do for you. Think about what you can do with the opportunity.

My journey to EARTH University began with an application.

That application opened a door.

EARTH University gave me knowledge, experiences, friendships, confidence, and a broader vision of what is possible.

The Mastercard Foundation gave me more than financial support for my education. It gave me an opportunity to grow, to lead, and to imagine impact at a much larger scale.

Today, I carry that opportunity forward through my work with young people and communities.

Because I believe education is not simply a destination.

It is a multiplier.

One opportunity can reach one person.

One person can reach a family.

A family can influence a community.

And a community can change a generation.

My journey began with one opportunity.

Now, my goal is to help create many more.