Alumni Highlight: Yar Monica Awai
By Alfred Geri Duku, Edited by Sairah Rees
Born in a remote area in Lakes State, South Sudan, Monica never imagined that she would one day graduate from university. Like many in South Sudan, Monica’s community held traditional beliefs about girls’ education. The fear that an educated woman would cause trouble for her husband means that girls’ education is far from prioritised.
Fortunately, Monica’s father saw the value in supporting his daughter’s education. He paid for her school fees and encouraged her to reach for the stars. Thanks to this, and her own hard work, Monica was able to complete primary education in Kampala and secondary education in Juba.
“Unfortunately, in 2020, my life crumbled,” she tells us, a mournful look on her face. “Losing my dad during the time I needed him the most was a huge blow to me as a person and to my academic journey.”
“As one of the few ladies from Awerial County to complete tertiary education, I am a living example of how the girl-child could overcome many structural barriers and build a brighter future. I see myself as a role model to girls and young mothers who would follow the path of standing up and speaking for their right to education, just like boys and men. Achieving a Diploma in Primary Education is just one of the key milestones that I want to realize in my life. I look forward to furthering my studies and overcoming the obstacles along the way. Join me as we advocate for an inclusive education for all children regardless of their inherent or acquired differences.”
Monica, distraught, feared that she would be unable to continue with her education. For many, the journey does indeed end here. In some areas of South Sudan, less than 1% of girls are enrolled in secondary education. Even less make it past that into the tertiary level, with less than 0.5% achieving this feat in 2018.
But for Monica, a lifeline came in the form of a scholarship through Windle Trust International.
“I felt like my dream was taking shape again,” recounts Monica, her face beaming. “My hope was rebuilt when I got the notification that I received the Windle Trust scholarship that would cover my tuition fees, scholastic materials, and some living stipend.”
The scholarship, funded by All Saints Educational Trust and managed by Windle Trust International, enabled her and many other young women to enroll for a two-year Diploma in Primary Education at St. Mary’s University College in 2021, with the aim of addressing the huge shortage of professional female teachers that the country is currently experiencing.
Her graduation from St. Mary’s University College in December 2024 with a Diploma in Primary Education is therefore a significant milestone, not only for Monica but for girls nationwide. Hundreds of schoolgirls and young mothers now stand to benefit from the knowledge and skills she has gained. She advises fellow women not to allow themselves to be held back by prejudices and negative cultural attitudes, but to remain focused in the pursuit of education and their development.
Reflecting on the barriers she faced in her own pursuit, Monica recalls how her husband abandoned her and took her away her only child in an effort to frustrate her education.
“Looking back,” she says, “these challenges are not unique to me but reflect the daily difficulties that the girl-child goes through as they push harder to find their niche in the wider society.”
Monica says she was not deterred by the setbacks that she experienced, but instead remained focused until she “reached the greatest heights of education as witnessed during my recent graduation.” She describes her own story as a “testimony of what could be accomplished if girls and women are given the chance to pursue further studies.”
Monica’s ambition now is to improve the retention of girls in school by conducting training focused on menstrual hygiene management. She is keen to address the myths, misinformation and stigma that currently keep many girls from enrolling in secondary education. To her, doing so would be the best way to “pay back” for the gesture of compassion shown to her and many young women by Windle Trust International through the scholarship. She hopes many young girls and women would continue to benefit from scholarships like hers in the future. According to Monica, their “collective impact” would be “testimony to the transformation Windle Trust has made in South Sudan.”
Read more about WTI’s work improving girls’ education in South Sudan.
Graduation of the girls who were sponsored for their Diplomas at St Mary’s University College in Juba.