Mary Maker

South Sudanese refugee Mary Maker has been supporting UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, since 2018 and was appointed Goodwill Ambassador in 2023.

After fleeing her war-torn country as a child, Mary found security and hope through continuing her studies in Kenya’s Kakuma Refugee Camp. This experience shaped the trajectory of Mary’s life as she shifted from student to teacher in the camp and continues to teach young refugees in her community. Mary advocates passionately for education as an essential tool for rebuilding the lives of those in crisis and for empowering a generation of girls who are too often denied entrance into the classroom.

Despite enduring multiple hardships and facing seemingly insurmountable odds, Mary was accepted as a scholarship student at St. Olaf University in Minnesota, USA. Mary studied theatre and international relations and graduated with honors in May 2023.

Alongside her studies, Mary established her own non-profit organization, Elimisha Kakuma, which provides access to higher education opportunities for high school graduates living in Kakuma Refugee Camp in Kenya.