At just 14, Abuk is seizing her chance to have a bright future, thanks to a school supported by MAF flights.
Abuk Chol Jok dreams of becoming an engineer, hoping to build a better life for her family and her community.
The South Sudanese refugee, who attends PEACE Nursery and Primary School inside a refugee camp in Uganda, is dreaming of further opportunities to study after achieving success in her most recent examinations.
“I will build for my parents a house and help the needy,” she said.
"I want to go to university and get a good job.”
At just 14 years old, Abuk has overcome numerous challenges, common to many young South Sudanese refugee girls. Despite being one of only two girls in a class of 24 students who sat for the Grade 7 exams, Abuk persevered and emerged triumphant.
I will build for my parents a house and help the needy.
Rosemary Khamati, the executive director of PEACE International in Uganda, met with the parents and the children who finished grade 7 to discuss how they can move forward and join secondary school.
“The true measure of a partner is not in the profits made, but in the impact made in the lives of others,” she said. “The partnership of MAF is not just transportation but a bridge of hope for those in need.”
In a significant step for the school, the first Grade 7 class sat for the Primary Leaving Examinations. Out of the 24 students, all passed. Among those students were Abuk and another girl.
Unfortunately, the reason only two girls finished Grade 7 was the harsh reality that some girls became pregnant during the COVID period, while others were married off at a very young age.
The partnership of MAF is not just transportation but a bridge of hope for those in need.
Abuk's father left for South Sudan in 2022 and never returned. Her mother sells the vegetable okra in order to raise money for her children's education.
Abuk and her six siblings are under the care of their older brother. Despite the struggles, Abuk remains focused on her education and future.
Rosemary aims to create a scholarship programme with a primary focus on helping girls. She believes that, given the opportunity for proper education, these girls can succeed in secondary school and excel in their future endeavours.
To implement this initiative, a single-sex school, St Mary’s Assumpta Girls School, has been selected for their next steps.
Rosemary shared the story of another girl whose father convinced the mother he was taking her back to South Sudan’s capital Juba to visit grandparents. Instead, he married her off. This experience left a big wound on Rosemary, who was determined to help the remaining girls stay in school.
"These two girls who had remained, I decided that we needed to invest in them. I had to talk to their parents, especially the mothers, to give these girls a chance, and I knew they would make it. So, we’ve been walking together alongside them, and I’m so glad they made it through the examinations," Rosemary said.
Abuk wants to change her family’s life through education.
These two girls who had remained, I decided that we needed to invest in them.
"I want to go to St Mary’s Assumpta. It’s a good school for girls,” she said.
"Our parents didn’t study but I want to study and change the life of my family.''
"I want to be in Nairobi when I grow up. They tell me Nairobi is cool.”
