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Toribio, Gabu each awarded $10,000 in Davis Peace Project Grant

Waverly, IA (04/14/2025) — Two Wartburg College students were selected to each receive a $10,000 grant from the Davis Projects for Peace program in support of humanitarian efforts in their home countries.

Milagros Toribio, a senior graphic design and political science major from Peru, will help young women in Peru gain peace and prosperity through financial literacy. Boboya Gabu, a junior public health major from South Sudan, will address the issue of maternal health.

"I have seen challenging realities in my own community where living with scarcity forces us to be efficient because we have no other choice. However, this scarcity has often limited us from thinking we need to know more about how finances work. How can we talk about savings and budgeting when money is scarce and one lives on less than a minimum wage?" said Toribio. "Unfortunately, this lack of financial knowledge has put many of the community members, particularly women, in a vulnerable position when it comes to issues like fraud and Ponzi schemes."

Gabu, a second-time Davis Projects for Peace grantee, will help facilitate the construction of a new maternity ward in Kedi'ba Payam, where women must either deliver their babies unattended or walk 45 miles to the nearest hospital. The Mundri East County Health Department will supply trained midwives, health care personnel and other medical equipment to the facility.

The plan was formulated following a conversation with the Mundri East County health director, who told Gabu that in 2024, the Mundri East County Health Department reported 234 unattended births in Kedi'ba Payam, resulting in 42 maternal and 27 infant deaths due to delivery complications.

"These figures translate to an 18% maternal mortality rate and a 12% infant mortality rate - an unacceptable reality," said Gabu.

Inspired by Projects for Peace mission to support sustainable, community-driven peacebuilding efforts, Gabu submitted his first proposal in 2024, titled, "Empowering Lives Affected by HIV/AIDS."

"That project reinforced my belief in sustainable community-driven initiatives. Witnessing the tangible impact of vocational training and economic empowerment on individuals affected by HIV/AIDS inspired me to continue advocating for health-focused projects in South Sudan. The success of last year's initiative also strengthened my relationship with local partners, making it possible to take on an even larger, life-saving effort," said Gabu.

Philanthropist Kathryn Wasserman Davis founded Davis Projects for Peace in 2007 to celebrate her 100th birthday. Davis, who died in 2013, committed $1 million annually to fund 100 grass-roots efforts by college students. The 2025 cohort is made up of 194 projects nominated by 94 partner institutions. The projects will take place in 62 countries around the world and 16 U.S. states. Wartburg students have received a grant every year since the program's inception.

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