For many girls and women in South Sudan, receiving a full education remains out of reach.
Cultural and historical factors mean they often wed at a young age and, with a need to secure an immediate income to support their families, schooling is put to one side.
Amin Gabriel Machol, a 20-year-old from Cueibet, is fully aware of this. That is why she is grateful for the opportunity to study at Victor Luke Memorial School, which is supported by Jesuit Missions.
She credits her father, a former soldier who now works for the World Health Organisation, for recognising the value of education for boys and girls alike.
“Education can change so much for our communities”
“Some parents who did not receive an education may pressure their daughters into marrying young, which can make them feel bad about pursuing their studies,” Amin Gabriel says.
“However, my father is very supportive, and I truly appreciate all he does for us. He also had a father who supported him when he was young, allowing him to fight for an education.”
Amin Gabriel wants to encourage other parents in Cueibet to follow a similar path if possible, noting that education can “change so much for our communities”.
She has ambitions to become a pharmacist or a nurse after she completes her secondary education to help address the limited medical support in the region which, she says, has led to “many [premature] deaths”.
She reserves special praise for the staff at Victor Luke, a school which bears the name of a murdered Jesuit priest who was committed to improving access to education in South Sudan.
The teachers, Amin Gabriel explains, are “dedicated, peaceful and supportive” and “always willing to help” despite a lack of resources.
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