Pathway to Hope: BYU–Pathway Worldwide in Africa

Speaker: Jane Clayson Johnson
Podcast: BYU Speeches
Date: October 1, 2025

Episode Overview

In this powerful episode, Emmy award-winning journalist Jane Clayson Johnson shares both her personal perspective and stories from BYU Pathway Worldwide—a divinely inspired, online education program—transforming the lives of students across Africa. Through her experience making the documentary “Pathway to Hope,” Johnson recounts inspiring stories from Uganda and Kenya, explores both the opportunities and hardships faced by BYU Pathway students, and issues a heartfelt call for listeners to recognize and participate in this remarkable, global movement of hope and self-reliance.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Introduction to BYU Pathway Worldwide (00:37 – 04:50)

• Not Charity, but Opportunity: BYU Pathway is not charity or simply outreach; it is a spiritual, accessible, and affordable model of education, reaching over 85,000 students in 180 countries (only 25% in the US, the rest international, with the majority in Africa).
• Transformative Encounters: Johnson describes a pivotal Zoom call with students from Papua New Guinea, South Africa, DR Congo, and Zimbabwe—highlighting their determination, resilience, and faith.
  • Quote (03:35): “Talent is equally distributed, but opportunity is not.”
• Purpose of the Documentary: The desire to show the world how BYU Pathway is democratizing education and blessing lives across the globe led Jane to Africa to gather stories.

2. The BYU Pathway Model & Barriers Faced (04:51 – 10:28)

• High Impact, Low Cost: Innovative approaches like the 3-year bachelor’s degrees, stackable certificates, and support from service missionaries make education accessible.
• Real Sacrifice & Perseverance: 74% of African students struggle for basic needs like meals; 76% lack stable housing or internet.
  • Quote (07:20): “Imagine…writing a term paper for one of your classes on a cell phone because you cannot afford a computer.”
• Spiritually Rooted: The spiritual foundation and hope provided drive students to persist.

3. Personal Stories of Resilience & Faith

Elizabeth (10:28 – 11:53)

• Single mother in Nairobi working 75 hours/week and living in poverty, but courageously pursuing her degree.
• Quote (10:28): “[BYU] Pathway has given me hope, it has given me confidence, and I know I’ll get a good job.” – Elizabeth

Grace (11:30 – 15:11)

• Forced into an abusive marriage after her father's death, Grace escaped with her children, discovered the Church and Pathway.
  • Quote (12:33): “I felt like it was a punishment from God. It was the worst experience…”
  • Studying at dawn and after night shifts, she’s determined to break the cycle of poverty.

Junior (15:11 – 17:54)

• Family disowned him after joining the Church. Served a mission without support, returned to nothing. Pathway offers his only hope.
  • Quote (16:22): “I could cry inside of my heart without showing them, because I’m a kind of person who does not want to show people that I’m suffering.”
  • BYU Pathway’s scholarships and discounts make education possible at just $2–$300 for a full degree, but the cost is still a huge sacrifice.

Janet (18:58 – 20:42)

• Survivor of the Rwandan genocide, lost parents to HIV/AIDS, returned from a mission in England to culture shock and unmet expectations.
  • Quote (19:41): “They made fun of me… how do you go to such a good country and look at you? You’re back. You have nothing.”

4. Be Selfless Center: Solving Practical Barriers (18:28 – 22:29)

• 24/6 Computer Access: The “Be Selfless” center provides computer and internet access for students, with a 97% retention and completion rate (21:22).
• Support for Single Mothers: Safe housing, meals, and inclusive support, especially for single moms, breaking cultural and economic barriers.
  • Quote (22:09): “Our cultures here, when you get pregnant, they kick you out of the home. But the prophet has also encouraged you to seek an education…” – Stephen Maraca

5. New Roots and Entrepreneurship: Faith and Vianney (22:54 – 26:16)

• Faith uses her Pathway skills to start a cake business, more than doubling her family's income.
• Service missionaries, like Lori Cummings, provide essential mentorship and practical help, such as facilitating Faith’s acquisition of an oven.
  • Quote (24:57): “Before I joined Pathway, I knew Jesus Christ, but I didn’t understand Him... My testimony of the Savior has strengthened so, so much because of Pathway.” – Faith
• Service missionaries are in high demand; not enough are available to meet need (25:24).

6. Connecting Education to Work: The Bloom Example (26:16 – 28:45)

• Bloom connects Pathway students with meaningful remote jobs, providing both income and motivation to stay in school.
  • Quote (26:44): “The goal is to help returned missionaries all around the world...know that they have a path to self-reliance if they’re educated, if they’re willing to work hard.”
• The job pipeline remains a challenge; more partner employers needed.

7. Outcomes, Successes, and Calls to Action

• Breaking the Cycle: Students like Grace, Junior, Janet, Elizabeth, Faith, and Vianney are becoming leaders, entrepreneurs, and church builders in their communities.
• Personal Touch: Johnson shares a moving moment—Vianney’s request to pray together after a long filming day. Their deep faith and gratitude left a lasting impression.
  • Quote (30:59): “God is mindful of every people, whatsoever land they may be in…after working on this documentary, I know now more than ever that the Lord is aware of all His children.”
• Invitation: Watch the full documentary on BYUTV and get involved—spread the word, volunteer, or mentor.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Talent is equally distributed, but opportunity is not.” (03:35, Johnson)
• Elizabeth: “Pathway has given me hope, it has given me confidence, and I know I’ll get a good job.” (10:28)
• Grace: “He would lock me up most of the time. I never went to the shops…in the middle of the night, I left…” (12:33)
• Junior: “I could cry inside of my heart without showing them, because I’m a kind of person who does not want to show people that I’m suffering.” (16:22)
• Faith: “Before I joined Pathway, I knew Jesus Christ, but I didn’t understand Him... My testimony of the Savior has strengthened so, so much because of Pathway.” (24:57)
• Jane Clayson Johnson: “Never take your education here at BYU for granted. It is a sacred stewardship…these blessings are not just for you. They are meant to be shared, to lift, to build, to serve.” (32:53)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:37 – 04:50: Introduction to BYU Pathway and Johnson’s journey to making the documentary
• 10:28 – 11:53: Elizabeth’s story as a single mother and new student
• 11:30 – 15:11: Grace’s journey from trauma to hope and education
• 15:11 – 17:54: Junior’s sacrifice as a convert and returned missionary
• 18:58 – 20:42: Janet’s experience with loss, missionary service, and new beginnings via Pathway
• 18:28 – 22:29: The “Be Selfless” Center and its impact
• 22:54 – 26:16: Faith’s entrepreneurship and the role of service missionaries
• 26:16 – 28:45: The job connection pipeline through Bloom
• 30:59 – 35:55: Concluding testimonies, impact, and call to action

Closing Reflections

Jane Clayson Johnson’s address is both a call to gratitude for one’s own blessings and a vivid portrait of BYU Pathway’s power to transform lives. It’s an impassioned plea for listeners to recognize their interconnectedness with students across the world and to act—supporting, mentoring, hiring, or simply sharing the message of BYU Pathway’s miracle of hope, education, and spiritual growth.

Watch the full documentary “Pathway to Hope” on BYUTV following General Conference, or stream it online. Consider how you might become involved, and never take for granted the miracle and stewardship of your own education.