[ad_1]
Daniel Deng grew up in South Sudan, taking care of his five siblings after he lost both his mother and father.
After completing his senior four year of school in Uganda, he traveled to Nimule to Fulla Secondary School to receive his South Sudan certificate of secondary education. Despite the academic struggle he faced after losing his father, he was the second-best student in Eastern Equatoria State.
He was accepted and enrolled in the Leadership Academy of South Sudan (LASS) in 2016.
The discipleship classes at LASS were especially transformative for Daniel, building a foundation for the journey he’s on now.
He shares, “Learning how to manage myself effectively and collaborate with others left a profound impact on me. It instilled in me a deep sense of integrity that I carry with me to this day.”
In January 2018, after graduating from LASS, he was admitted at the University of Juba to pursue a bachelor’s degree in geology. After settling in, he couldn’t help but notice the lifestyles of his fellow students. It became evident that few were living with the same transformed mindset he gained at LASS, igniting a desire to share these life-changing lessons with his peers.
Starting with the small group of students he lived with, Daniel began imparting the values and principles he had learned at LASS. He then united with a fellow LASS alumni, John Machek, to formally initiate discipleship training for students in 2018. Despite facing resistance from university authorities who misinterpreted their intentions, they endured, leaning into their mission to develop personal and public leadership qualities in the other students.
After overcoming initial obstacles, they obtained approval in 2021 to commence the program with a modest number of students from various schools and colleges. What began with just 10 students has flourished into a community of over 78 actively engaged participants focused on developing and enriching their leadership skills. Daniel says witnessing the transformation in their lives has been immensely rewarding.
Today, Daniel and John’s program extends beyond the University of Juba, reaching 6 different universities nationwide, each receiving training twice a month. They focus on discipleship, leadership, networking, mentorship, and the African Young Leaders Foundation (AYLF) curriculum, which works to prepare the next generation of community, civic, and business leaders in Africa and beyond. LOASA (the alumni organization from LASS) members help facilitate the trainings, sharing their wealth of knowledge to the students.
Daniel is now married with a baby girl. Lead4africa has shaped him into the man he is today and fuels his passion to teach and empower university students to become strong men and women.
He shares, “We attribute all our successes to God, acknowledging His guidance and provision every step of the way. As we continue to expand our reach and empower more young minds, we remain committed to upholding the principles of integrity, service, and leadership taught to us by LASS.”
Daniel’s story is testament to the enduring impact of LASS and the enriching values and skills it instills in its students.
[ad_2]
Source link
