Sarah Mugoli Balekage

Sarah Mugoli Balekage is a Mastercard Foundation Scholar at the University of Oxford pursuing an MSc in African Studies. She is a member of Linacre College.

Born in Eastern Congo, Sarah’s early experiences were shaped by conflict, gender inequality, and poverty. Her parents defied social expectations by prioritising her education, setting her on a path marked by resilience and purpose. Sarah became the first in her family to study abroad, beginning with a seven-year scholarship at Alfajiri High School from the Congolese Petroleum Company, followed by a fully funded International Baccalaureate Diploma at United World College of Hong Kong. There, she transitioned from a French-speaking background to full English fluency.

Sarah graduated as valedictorian and was awarded the Shelby Davis Scholarship to attend St Olaf College in the United States. She designed her own major in Social Entrepreneurship and Community Advocacy, conducting research on genocide recovery in Rwanda, youth perceptions of child marriage in Africa, and the humanitarian role of the United Nations in Congo. A study abroad term in South Africa deepened her understanding of post-Apartheid inequalities and colonial legacies.

Inspired by her father's humanitarian work, Sarah founded Binti Voice Initiative, a platform supporting Congolese survivors of gender-based violence. The initiative combines medical fundraising, storytelling for healing, and community education to empower affected women and girls.

At Oxford, Sarah will explore how education reform in Congo has affected girls' schooling and child marriage rates. She looks forward to contributing to a vibrant academic community that shares her commitment to Africa. For Sarah, each opportunity is a rung on a ladder she climbs, to rise up—and to lift others with her.