Musingo Mercy
Type: Applicant Led, Mountaintop Anglican Fellowship
Hometown: Mbale, Uganda
Fellowship Location: Ngora, Uganda
What inspired you to join Mountaintop?
"I was inspired to join the mountaintop fellowship due to the unique offerings and support it offers in terms to my ambitious project: African Youth Mentorship Project. The fellowship offers me a unique opportunity to learn and be mentored by experienced professionals and global leaders which is something I am very excited about."
Musingo Mercy is a dedicated advocate for girls' education in her community. She co-founded the United for Girls and Women Empowerment (UGWE) African Foundation with the vision of equipping girls in rural communities to pursue their dreams fearlessly, empowering the next generation of female leaders to drive positive change in their communities and beyond. Under her leadership, UGWE has launched transformative initiatives focused on providing STEM education, leadership training, and financial literacy to girls and teenage mothers. Through her strategic partnerships, Musingo has facilitated scholarship programs for underprivileged girls at Namuwonge Girls' School in the Mbale district, significantly impacting their futures.
Musingo's initiatives have notably improved school engagement, with absenteeism halved from 25% in 2019 to just 12% in 2023, along with a reduction in teenage pregnancies. This remarkable progress was highlighted on local TV station TV East, amplifying the message of empowerment and success across communities. Musingo explains, "Our aim is not just to educate but to inspire a wave of change that empowers girls to envision and create their successful futures."
Mercy's passion for empowering girls in education is rooted in her experiences during her academic journey, where she faced challenges while pursuing a STEM career. She committed herself to ensuring that girls have access to quality education, resources, and opportunities throughout their academic journeys.
Mercy holds a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering and leads programs to mentor young girls to excel in STEM subjects, encouraging them to explore their potential in areas traditionally underrepresented by women. Her commitment to driving change has led her to participate in UNLEASH Rwanda, a global innovation lab for the SDGs, and Awareness 360, where she was awarded as a Star Fellow, as well as the Millennium Fellowship for young leaders driving social change in their communities, where she was designated as an Emerging Technologist.
She has been recognized for her contributions to her community, receiving the "Outstanding Young Alumni" Award from the US Mission, being named a Star Fellow by Awareness 360, and being honored as an Honorary Citizen of Huntsville, Alabama, USA.
Expanding her transformative impact, Musingo is leading the "STEM IT UP Girls" initiative in the Mbale District, dedicated to equipping young women with essential technology and innovation skills. This forward-thinking project promises a truly inclusive education by incorporating sign language interpreters for students with hearing impairments and creating tech clubs in local schools to foster continuous learning and creativity. Musingo’s unwavering commitment to inclusivity and her innovative educational strategies are paving new pathways for gender equality in STEM fields, ensuring that every girl has the opportunity to rise and succeed.
Through her fellowship, Musingo will concentrate her efforts on this initiative, poised to bring significant, life-changing impacts to the lives of young girls in the Mbale district.