Meet an engineering student cultivating a love of reading through her nonprofit organization

When Jube Augustino first considered her path to higher education, Case Western Reserve University immediately stood out among her options.

“I wanted to pursue a career in the medical field, and Case Western Reserve offered both a great biomedical engineering program and research-intensive environment,” she said. “The university stood out for me because of its research intense environment and strong integration of engineering, medicine and innovation. I was confident in what I wanted so I applied to Case Western Reserve as an early decision and it was one of the two schools I have applied to.”

In addition to her regular classes, Augustino was heavily involved with the Veale Institute of Entrepreneurship as she worked to create her nonprofit. 

“Everyone on the team helped me grow as a student and as an entrepreneur,” she said. “I am forever grateful to them.”

Education as a driver of change

“In South Sudan, children share textbooks at a ratio of 1:7,” Augustino explained. “Recreational and inspirational materials that encourage creativity, critical thinking and peace-building are almost nonexistent.”

“Being 7,189 miles away, I believed there was nothing I could do. I knew I wanted to make a difference in education but the 'how' was my biggest obstacle. That changed during a flight from Charlotte to Cleveland. A single conversation with a stranger sparked what would become Books To Succeed (BTS) International.”

The registered nonprofit is dedicated to providing essential books to schools across South Sudan with a simple yet powerful mission: to help the next generation experience the power of one book for a better future.

“Education is a key driver of change, and I believe that by providing books and encouraging a love for reading, we can help build a generation that is informed, empowered and capable of shaping a better future for themselves and their communities.”

The organization recently received 501(c)(3) status, which Augustino hopes will allow them to further drive fundraising efforts and do outreach to additional communities and students. 

Path forward

As she leaves Case Western Reserve University, Augustino hopes to bring her extensive coursework in biomedical engineering and materials science into a career in engineering. She plans to continue her work with BTS International and supervise the team in South Sudan. 

“I grew up in Juba, South Sudan, the youngest country in the world, which is still taking baby steps in a lot of development sectors,” she says. “However, health is not something that can afford to wait. I lost loved ones because of misdiagnosis, lack of basic medical instruments and proper medications. Too often, every illness was labeled malaria and typhoid until it’s too late. Witnessing this made me realize that health is treated as a privilege rather than a right. I knew I did not want to be a physician but instead to bridge the gap that makes effective healthcare inaccessible. I choose to study biomedical engineering because I know it will give me the knowledge and expertise to help my people.”

When it comes to advice for other students and nonprofit founders, she has one key piece of advice: “Nurture your passion, and make endless connections and networks.”