What One Woman’s Investment Did

A $300 computer changed the trajectory of a life—and offers a powerful lesson for women leaders everywhere.

Lual Mayen was born as his mother fled violence in South Sudan, arriving at a refugee camp in northern Uganda, where he would spend the next 22 years.

Life there offered few opportunities, but his mother believed fiercely in her son’s potential. Through sacrifice and determination, she managed to buy him a $300 computer—an extraordinary investment under the circumstances.

At first, Lual didn’t know how to use it. Then he understood something profound: if his mother had invested so much hope in him, he needed to honor that belief.

Teaching himself through what he calls “YouTube University,” he learned to code and began creating games—games designed not just for entertainment, but to give displaced youth something often missing from their lives: belonging, empathy, and connection.

On Dec 16, 2025, I had the honor of introducing Lual at an International Migrants Day event at the United Nations in New York, co-hosted with the Canadian Permanent Mission. He is friends with one of our members in the NYC Club, and I had met him previously, and related strongly to his stories.

As he lives in Washington, DC, it was feasible to bring him in to speak in person. What a great impact he made on all of us!

His work as CEO of Junub Games and founder of the Lual Mayen Foundation has earned international recognition, and his educational games are used in schools in the United States and the United Kingdom.

His foundation empowers refugees through technology, education, and employment pathways and his goal is to teach a path to peace through games. His work has won many awards, including the Mohammed Ali Humanitarian Award and now he is in negotiations with the Discovery channel.

But this story is not just about one man’s success. It is about what happens when a woman invests—in a child, in a future, in possibility.

For business and professional women, this lesson is deeply familiar. We know that access to tools, education, and mentorship changes outcomes. Yet women and girls on the move—migrants, refugees, and displaced women—are still far less likely to receive those investments.

In many parts of the world, families continue to prioritize sons over daughters when resources are scarce, limiting women’s economic independence before it even begins.

Each of us can help change that. By mentoring, sponsoring, and intentionally supporting women and girls—whether they are migrants, refugees, or simply young people in our own communities—we extend opportunity where it is most needed. We strengthen not only individual lives but economies, workplaces, and societies.

As members of the National Federation of Business and Professional Women’s Clubs, we are uniquely positioned to do this work. Leadership is not only about titles or achievements; it is about recognizing potential and helping it grow.

Sometimes, that investment is financial. Often, it is time, encouragement, and belief.

One woman’s $300 investment unlocked a lifetime of impact on many more lives than her son’s. Imagine what our collective leadership can do.

Nermin K. Ahmad
Chair Women on the Move
2024-2026

Please contact me directly for more information: Womenonthemove@nfbpwc.org