The Day I was Separated from my Family
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Step into the shoes of our incredible young women Scholars in South Sudan as they share their personal stories of an unforgettable day. From unfathomable heartbreak to profound joy, these authentic accounts offer a window into their lives and unwavering resilience. Join us on this powerful journey through their unforgettable days.
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These accounts are written in response to the essay prompt, “A day in your life you will never forget”.
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These stories were originally handwritten by the Scholars, and their names, the names of family members and places have been removed to safeguard the sensitivity of their accounts. The narratives have been transcribed and slightly revised by our staff for enhanced readability and comprehension.
It was on the 1st of December, 2017, when my mum decided to migrate and look for a place to survive because she couldn’t bear the conditions of suffering in South Sudan. She had been struggling for so long to care for me and my siblings, especially because I was in eighth grade at the time and needed a lot of support. My mum was the only one supporting me, brewing alcohol to pay for my school fees, but she couldn’t provide everything I needed.
To make matters worse, she was also lacking support from my dad, making it even harder for her to manage everything alone. Eventually, she decided to go to a refugee camp in Kenya. Her departure left me feeling very lonely and helpless because there was no one to help me. My dad was also very poor and illiterate, unable to provide any support.
From that point, difficult times began. I had no options and decided I should leave school because I lacked many necessities. After our exams, we were released for the holidays, and starting life as an intelligent girl was challenging. I decided to go to a trading center where I started boiling tea and brewing alcohol to sell. This allowed me to make some money, enough to buy soap, which helped me regain some mental stability and courage to return to school.
As I made my way back to where I first lived, I had a terrible experience. I encountered robbers on the road. I wanted to fly away, but I had no wings; I wanted to run, but fear paralyzed me. The robbers approached me, demanded I stop, and took everything from me, even the clothes I was wearing. At that moment, I felt utterly destitute.
This event plunged me back into stress and despair about how to survive. As a teenager, I had negative thoughts, even contemplating ending my life or doing something drastic to get money. However, as a God-fearing person, I trusted in God and prayed, believing that one day my life would change.
Indeed, my life changed when I received the Mercy Beyond Borders scholarship. Although I still lack support from my parents, the scholarship has had a profound positive impact, keeping me in school. I continue to pray for the longevity of the scholarship and for the well-being of everyone involved in supporting us. I am determined to work hard and help others in the future, just as Mercy Beyond Borders is helping me.
Lastly, I pray hard to achieve my goals and bring my mum and siblings back home.
Staff Update: Written in 2019 as a Mercy Beyond Borders (MBB) high school Scholar, she is now (2024) studying Computer Science at university in Kenya on a full MBB scholarship.
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