Meet Phillip Amol Kuol, one of our Cairdeas scholars! Phillip is currently in third year at Uganda Christian University in Arua, studying for his Bachelor's Degree in Social Work and Social Administration. We asked Phillip to share some of his story and his plans for the future.

I am a committed individual originally from South Sudan but currently residing in Northern Uganda. I have faced significant challenges, growing up as a refugee due to conflict in my home country. Despite these hardships, I have been relentless in the pursuit of education and am currently in the third year of study for my Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work and Social Administration and I have a great passion for serving my community.

I began my journey by working as a translator in Nyumanzi refugee settlement in Adjumani district, assisting South Sudanese refugee patients in Nyumanzi Health Center, and in the community. This position allowed me to develop a strong connection with the healthcare system. My interactions with healthcare professionals, particularly those focused on palliative care, inspired me to pursue further training, such as holistic care and counselling.

Phillip shared more about his work in Palliative Care.

My dedication and interest in palliative care led me to volunteer for the Village Health Team palliative care training, under the Transform Project with Medical Team International. Here, I received extensive training that equipped me with the knowledge and skills to make a significant impact in my community, particularly in providing care and support to adolescents, the elderly, my fellow refugees and the host community of Adjumani district.

Due to the knowledge I gained from palliative care training with Peace Hospice Adjumani, I became a volunteer for youth advocacy and a peer educator at Reach a Hand Uganda, where I worked in WAY project (Women, Adolescents, Youths Rights and Empowerment programme), U-decide, and Generation Gender project.

I also became the Executive Director of Dongriin Foundation, which is a refugee led organization in Dzaipi Sub County in Adjumani District. This has also added more capacity building, empowerment skills, experiences and knowledge to my growth.

Phillip went on to discuss his education and shared how the Cairdeas scholarship has helped him in pursuit of his goals.

My commitment to social work caught the attention of Cairdeas, an organization dedicated to promoting high-quality palliative care in resource-limited settings. Through their scholarship program, I was able to pursue a diploma in social work and social administration at Uganda Christian University (UCU). Unfortunately, the Adjumani Teaching Centre branch of UCU closed, leading me to continue with my studies at the UCU Arua Campus.

I am currently in the third year, second semester as a Bachelor's student at Uganda Christian University in Arua, Uganda. My coursework not only focuses on social work but also includes social administration and community health. I am deeply committed to my education, and to improving the lives of the voiceless in my community and promoting peaceful co-existence among youths, particularly within the refugee and host communities.

I wish to appreciate the team of Cairdeas for their great support rendered to me, I will give it back to my community and the world at large. I hope this support will continue to bring up more youths, to change my community and the world at large.

Finally, Phillip shared his plans for the future.

I wish to continue with my education up to Master’s so that I can add more knowledge through developing my career. I wish to work with authorities like Cairdeas and international organizations so that I will have more skills to become an international youth advocate. Besides, I would like to become an international worker so that I can also support refugees from other parts of the world as a way of giving back.

My journey is a remarkable testament to resilience, dedication, and the spirit of giving back to the community. My experiences and future aspirations demonstrate my unwavering commitment to making a difference in the lives of those around me.

If you would like to know more about Phillip's work, please email us at operations@cairdeas.org.uk