A conversation with Peter, founder of the Macro Hope Foundation
This Amala Impact Story was produced by students from St Joseph’s Institution International (SJII), Amala partner school.
Peter’s journey from South Sudan to becoming the founder of Macro Hope Foundation after graduating from Amala’s Social Entrepreneurship Changemaker Course shows the transformative change that can be achieved through dedication, passion, and education.
Enrolling in Amala's Social Entrepreneurship course proved to be a pivotal decision for Peter. This ten-week programme, which Peter completed in March 2023, equipped him with fundamental skills, such as team leadership. The impact of this education was profound, as it provided Peter with the opportunity to develop the tools and knowledge necessary to initiate real change within his community.
The creation of Macro Hope Foundation, a Community-Based Organisation dedicated to advocating for mental health awareness and supporting individuals affected by mental health issues, reflects Peter's determination and commitment to addressing pressing societal challenges. His focus on reducing suicides related to depression and addressing conditions such as dyslexia, autism, and social phobia illustrates his deep empathy and desire to alleviate the struggles faced by youth in refugee and host communities.
We recently had the wonderful opportunity to speak to Peter, to find out more about his journey and how Amala’s Social Entrepreneurship course helped him.
“Amala has improved my knowledge and empowered my dream as a social entrepreneur.”
Can you tell us how Amala has helped you?
By offering many courses that are enjoyable, and which help us to think about how to solve the issues that are currently in the camps. Amala helps us by connecting us to universities and other institutions, bringing us into the labour force. Amala has also helped me analyse my failings and my passion for social entrepreneurship. Without this education provided by Amala, I don’t think we would be here today, and made it to where we are. Amala has improved my knowledge and empowered my dream, and I am able to continue because of having taken part in various Amala programmes.
What sparked your interest in pursuing programmes with Amala?
I have experienced some difficulties in my life, and was depressed when I was younger. I tried to come up with some solutions to help other people and this is what motivated me, and kept me going. I wanted to make a project to be able to change and help people facing various problems in today’s society. I am an artist, and therefore am looking for a way to help other artists.
What is the Macro Hope Foundation?
After graduating from the Amala course, I founded Macro Hope Foundation, a Community-Based Organisation (CBO) using the social entrepreneurship skills I gained through the course.
“Our aim is to see all youth in vibrancy and following their dreams without depressing obstacles.”
My team includes people from different backgrounds, and the Macro Hope Foundation advocates for awareness of mental health and supports people who have been victimised by mental health issues among refugee youth and host communities. Our aim is to help minimise the number of suicides related to depression, while also addressing dyslexia, autism and social anxiety.
Can you tell us a bit more about what went into creating the Macro Hope Foundation, and what motivated you to create it?
I started this project in 2021 when I was in form 2 of secondary school. It started from a very small point, and I suffered many setbacks, including difficulties in trying to convince people to help.
The main focus of wanting to start this was to raise awareness for mental health, as well as to reduce suicide rates among youth. One of my close friends was going through many difficulties including depression, and I wanted to help them, and also many other people going through similar difficulties and struggles. So we started clubs, and distributed information about mental health through these clubs, in order to raise awareness about it.
How has Amala helped you in setting up the Macro Hope Foundation?
Jessica (Global Programmes Coordinator) and Polly (Co-Founder and Co-Executive Director) were very helpful and supported me. Not just them, but many other people within Amala helped encourage us to continue and fight for this cause, and to follow our passions. Amala has helped me to be an aspiring artist, by helping to facilitate the formation of my project - the Macro Hope Foundation. They appreciated my work so much and helped me take it forward.
“Amala has improved my knowledge and empowered my dream as a social entrepreneur.”
What is your plan for the future?
There are several opportunities to go to university and pursue higher education, and my personal plan is to focus on academia and work on my own talents. I want to learn more about social entrepreneurship so that I am able to help more people and spread even greater awareness. I am working very hard on my own various challenges, and am trying every means to be able to attain my higher education. This also includes art, and I am finding ways to spread my message through art.
Read more about the SJII Amala Service Team here.