I met Neng Nguyen Tot when I was working as a Clinical Mentor at the Academy for Doctors Without Borders (MSF) in Jonglei State, Old Fangak in South Sudan. He was one of the first students that graduated from our 18-month Basic Nursing Core Curriculum. You see, MSF tries to hire local people to work in their missions as much as possible, but it is hard to have a standardized education in many of the areas MSF serves. Neng does not have an actual nursing degree but would like to further his studies so he can continue to care for his community.
He reached out to me, quoting a novel he had read about the Lost Boys in South Sudan saying 'If you want to walk faster, you walk alone, and if you want to walk very far, walk together. ' He felt the story that was told in that novel "boosted my life and my feelings."
My grandmother who is 108 and still alive in NC was a first grade school teacher in Greensboro her whole life and she funded the education of a woman from Kenya many years ago. This seems like the perfect way for me to grab the baton from her and continue to spread the gift of knowledge to those who seek it!
He will be starting a degree of Bachelor of Clinical Medicine and Community Health in Juba, South Sudan this February, 2023. He needs tuition fees, accommodations, food and transportation. It is a three year program and he will not be able to continue his current job with MSF while attending University.
If any of you are willing to give any money, Neng, my grandmother, Eugenia and I would really appreciate it!
