Jasmine Tendo Mpoza came to Anhalt University of Applied Sciences from Uganda with big dreams, an even bigger drive, and a firm belief that change starts from within. A bridge builder - between cultures and continents, from dreams to reality.
Nothing less than changing the world
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© Hochschule Anhalt - Uwe Jacobshagen
Uganda, lockdown, sometime in 2020. The schools are closed, many young people have no internet access, no structure, no prospects. Jasmine Tendo Mpoza was 16 at the time and founded an initiative with her siblings. Not because anyone asked her to. But because she sees what happens when young people, especially girls, are left to their own devices: Depression, early marriages, disrupted lives. So she did something about it.
Jasmine is now 22, studying at Anhalt University of Applied Sciences. The initiative from back then (namely, “Teens of Positive Purpose”) still exists. Jasmine is the eldest of five siblings and came to Germany to study International Business. When she decided to study at Anhalt University, she had a clear goal in mind: Build businesses that not only generate profit, but also strengthen their community in Uganda. Children in Uganda often lack the most basic things such as schooling, prospects, and a safe environment. Jasmine wants to change that.
When a campus becomes one’s home
What she found at Anhalt University exceeded her expectations. It’s not because of big buildings or a bustling city life, but because of the people and the atmosphere. While the picturesque campus surrounded by nature was impressive in itself, she was even more impressed by the student-to-staff ratio: Professors who not only impart knowledge, but also provide real support. They facilitate projects, establish contacts with companies, and take students seriously. She has also turned one of the projects into a start-up – sustainability and fashion –, which was her idea. When a university in Central Germany inspires someone to become an entrepreneur, Jasmine sees it as the perfect example of what good teaching should accomplish.
Jasmine also felt Germany’s “Willkommenskultur” (the way of making newcomers feel welcome and supported) right from the very beginning. International students are supported by a buddy program and can join clubs that actively promote diversity. New students from across the globe – including Uganda, India, and Canada – quickly make friends here. "That makes Anhalt University an excellent choice," she says.
From two to forty: An organization grows
© Hochschule Anhalt - Uwe Jacobshagen
In October 2024, Jasmine became a member of EMSO (the Erasmus Management Student Organization), an initiative launched by Anhalt University’s International Office. One month later, she was elected the initiative’s president. What began with two or three people grew under her leadership into a team of more than forty active members at all three campuses of Anhalt University. Their goal: Welcoming Erasmus students, creating cultural exchange spaces, and firmly anchoring international networking at the university.
"Change doesn't start with the whole world, but with one person – me."
Jasmine Tendo Mpoza
She learned a lot about leadership in the process: "The job of a leader is not to do the work for others, but to help others learn how to do it themselves." At the end of March 2025, she handed over the reins to her successor team – not because she stopped shaping things, but because she felt the most important thing to leave the organization with was – independence.
Jasmine is about to complete her Bachelor's degree and then wants to go on to do a Master's. Incidentally, her dreams have not changed since she made the move to study in Germany, but they have become more concrete: Entrepreneur. United Nations. Strengthening communities. And somewhere in between remains her firm belief: "Change doesn't start with the whole world, but with one person – me."
Without Jasmine Tendo Mpoza, there would be no EMSO team of more than forty people, and no president who turned two enthusiasts into a movement.
The university would not have a student who shows what it truly means to study internationally: not just gaining experience abroad, but building bridges – between cultures, between continents, between dreams and reality.
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Katja Wallrafen
About the ProgramThe International Business (B.A.) bachelor's program is designed for students who aspire to an international career and wish to spend one academic year at a partner university abroad. The program provides a solid foundation for a professional career in business, particularly in commercial and management-related fields. Graduates are well prepared for careers in industry, services, trade, banking, insurance, and public administration, both in Germany and internationally.
