Mario graduated from the Sudan University with a degree in Drama. He has won awards for film directing, one of which led to participating in the Nigerian Film Festival.
His documentary ‘Two Sudans’ won numerous awards. Mario is the leader of SYNOD Africa Drama group, which performs educational drama in schools, at conferences and festivals in Khartoum. He also delivers theatre and puppet making workshops to youth living in camps throughout Khartoum and in underserved areas in Mayo and Khartoum South. Mario lives in Haij Yousif camp, as he became a refugee when Sudan separated from South Sudan.
He lost citizenship rights in Sudan and cannot return to South Sudan due to conflict. He founded Salaam School for Peace in Haj Yousif, Shigela camp, which is now a government accredited school providing education from Year 1 to Year 8. This inspired other refugees in other camps in Jebel Aulia to start schools, and Mario mentors the teachers at these schools.
He also co-ordinates school holiday sporting competitions within and between camps. This project is the vision of Mario. His expertise and experience in theatre, his relationships with his fellow refugees and his knowledge of life in camp and the needs of youth in camps who he has been working with for years make him uniquely suited to ensure the success of this project.