Rebecca Babirye M.A. ’15 is always drawn to people on the margins, no matter where she finds herself. Growing up in a middle class family in Kampala, Uganda, she would sneak her mother’s coats out to the poor children in her neighborhood and dreamed of becoming a philanthropist who made lots of money to give away.

Today, Rebecca dreams of improving society through education. After years studying theology and running a children’s English program in Japan, Rebecca is now enrolled in Wheaton’s intercultural studies and TESOL programs.

“I am growing in creativity. I am learning to think and reason,” Rebecca says. How different would developing societies look, she wonders, if all people were empowered similarly?

After graduation, Rebecca hopes to work for an organization that joins education and development work in Africa or Asia. The beauty of intercultural studies, she says, is that she is not tied to one area.

“The world and its greatness are the Lord’s,” she says, noting that she wants to continue working with children, who teach her many truths about God.

“They are not just the future church. They are the present church,” Rebecca says. 

NAME: REBECCA BABIRYE M.A. ’15

DEGREE: M.A. IN INTERCULTURAL STUDIES WITH TESOL CERTIFICATION

HOMETOWN: KAMPALA, UGANDA

EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES: JAPAN PRAYER GROUP, WORLD RELIEF VOLUNTEER, LOMBARD MENNONITE CHURCH SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHER, GRADUATE SCHOOL INTERNATIONAL STUDENT WELCOMING STAFF

FUN FACT: REBECCA LOVES TO SING IN MANY LANGUAGES INCLUDING SHONA AND SWAHILI