A Cross-Cultural Conversation
At Saint Bakhita Vocational Training Center (SBVTC), stories of resilience, hope and empowerment emerge every day. Among them is the remarkable journey of Alanyo Falida, a graduate of the first cohort of Innovation Scholars in 2022. Her story is not only a testament to personal determination and goal achievement, but rather reflects the transformative power of education and community support at SBVTC.
While visiting the school in January 2025 as part of Professor Wendy Angst’s Innovation and Design Thinking Immersion course, Nate Butler (‘27), Francesca Frieri (‘26) and Manuella de Carvalho Rodrigues (‘25) had the opportunity to speak with Falida. With the help of Omara Godfrey as translator, the team asked Falida about her life and ambitions since her graduation from SBVTC, bonding over education, community and growth.
Learning, Earning & Growing
Falida’s story began in 2021 when she enrolled in the tailoring program at SBVTC. As part of the inaugural group of Innovation Scholars, she embraced the opportunity to pursue an education, and was grateful for the scholarship which helped enable it. Focused on developing practical skills for tailoring and foundational business skills, it was the start of a new trajectory which helped carry her through new challenges.
During her time as an Innovation Scholar, Falida was one of three students who had the unique opportunity to travel to the United States and visit Notre Dame for the airing of PMI’s ‘What Would You Fight For?’ commercial in October 2022. Full of many first-time experiences from plane flights to football games, the trip represented a significant milestone in her journey of growth. Experiencing the structured classrooms, fast-paced culture and focus on time management was a revelation for Falida, and came to mind as what she remembered most about her trip. “My time in the United States was something new, but the adventure was worth it in the end. I loved it. I loved every minute of it,” she reflected. For her, this cultural exchange underscored the importance of broadening and challenging her own perspectives.
After completing her training with SBVTC, Falida was inspired to return to her primary education – equivalent to fourth grade in the American system – and is now progressing through seventh grade. Her days are a blend of academics and practical work as she frequently returns to St. Bakhita during breaks to assist in the catering team and restaurant, as well as earning money through her tailoring skills. This dual focus on education and entrepreneurship exemplifies the holistic approach championed by SBVTC.
When asked about her favorite aspect of SBVTC, Falida emphasized the sense of equality that is upheld by the school, specifically saying that no student is given special privileges and that everyone feels comfortable and at home in the community. “We have a principal who listens to us, and we all feel comfortable talking to her,” she said. “When I want to give up, I remember all the things I have been taught at St. Bakhita and get the drive again to move on.” Her commitment to perseverance and community spirit reflects the school’s emphasis on mentorship, hands-on learning and the empowerment of young women.
Ambitions & Advice
Driven by her experiences at SBVTC and abroad, Falida has bold aspirations and looks forward to continuing her education and giving back to others. Specifically, she hopes to complete secondary education in Uganda and return to the United States again to be a student at the University of Notre Dame. Ultimately, Falida plans to pursue a career in medicine and serve as a pillar of strength and transformation in her community. “My goal in life is to impact my community”, she affirmed. She reflected on how much she had been impacted by her community, especially at SBVTC, and hopes to do the same for others.
“Many people study, but prioritize things like dressing up and looking good. They put most of their proceeds from the business towards that. Make sure to learn the spirit of saving so that you can build on your success and impact your home and your community.”
Her advice to current and future St. Bakhita students is clear and powerful: embrace resilience, apply the lessons learned and focus on reinvesting in one’s future. “If you did tailoring, do not quit. If you did hairdressing, just keep going. Things will work out,” she advised. Many Saint Bakhita students graduate with valuable skills and entrepreneurial acumen; however, many face personal or professional challenges in “post-grad” life, which may hinder their ability to practice these vocations. Falida stressed the importance of working through these hardships and remembering that students will always have a community and a home at Saint Bakhita’s.
Falida also advises current students and recent graduates to save and avoid wastefulness, emphasizing the importance of delayed gratification in financial success. “Many people study, but prioritize things like dressing up and looking good. They put most of their proceeds from the business towards that. Make sure to learn the spirit of saving so that you can build on your success and impact your home and your community.” This sentiment echoed a common theme of Professor Angst’s winter break immersion team, as Notre Dame students worked with Innovation Scholars to build awareness on topics such as saving, loan payments and reinvesting in a business or self. Falida’s advice is completely parallel to that of the Notre Dame students and is a perfect example of the type of mindset SBVTC strives to build within its graduates.
Shared Stories & Lasting Connections
At the end of the conversation, Falida flipped the script, asking the Notre Dame students about their majors and what life was like at Notre Dame. Nate, Manuella and Francesca all responded with inspiring testimonies that truly embody the spirit of the Notre Dame family:
Nate: “The education at Notre Dame is about mind, body and spirit. It’s not just academics, which I think is very similar to St. Bakhita’s. We’re not just learning (at both schools) how to get a job or a good grade, but rather how to set your entire life up for success and become a well-rounded person.”
Manuella: “Mind is the academics: what we learn and teach. Body is about learning to take care of yourself, both mentally and physically. And spirit is your soul. We are not just our academics, but are all three of these things. Knowing this has literally changed my life. Notre Dame has opened so many opportunities for the future.”
Francesca: “It feels like home. You walk on campus, and everyone is immediately your family. It’s like nothing I’ve ever experienced before. You go there and feel so comfortable.”
Shared passions for learning and community were evident throughout the conversation, and reminded the team why the collaboration between SBVTC and ND has continued with such passion. The partnership, exemplified through Falida’s own journey, is a powerful reminder of the transformative potential of education, the value of community and the enduring importance of creating meaningful, lasting change.
Nate Butler is a rising junior in the Mendoza College of Business studying Marketing, Spanish and Anthropology.