Breaking Barriers, South Sudan
Jane Piath
My name is Jane Piath, and I come from Rumbek, South Sudan. I am the first-born daughter in a large, traditional Dinka family, where culture holds strong and expectations for girls are deeply rooted. From a young age, I found myself at the center of these expectations—cooking for large family gatherings, managing daily chores, and taking care of my siblings. But while I fulfilled these responsibilities, a quiet fire grew within me—the desire to learn, to dream, and to create a different path for myself.
In a society where many girls are married off young, I envisioned a future shaped by education and independence. I knew the odds were against me. Being a Dinka girl with dreams of leadership and education often felt like swimming upstream. But I refused to surrender to the limitations imposed on me.
Everything changed when I was accepted into Loreto Girls Secondary School. It became more than just a place of learning—it became a turning point in my life. Loreto offered me the space to grow, to dream boldly, and to focus on my education. While some of my classmates left school for early marriages, I stayed. I stayed for the future I believed in.
After graduating, I returned to Loreto as an intern—a role that came with new challenges. Questions from relatives about when I would marry became louder, more persistent. But I was fortunate to have supportive parents who encouraged me to keep going, even when the pressure felt overwhelming.
Driven by ambition, I moved to Juba to pursue further studies. Life in the capital was far from easy. I faced cultural shocks, financial hardship, and emotional isolation. The city was unfamiliar and, at times, unforgiving. When it became too much, I returned to Loreto—to the place that had always believed in me. I resumed my internship, grounding myself in the community that nurtured my dreams and gave me strength.
And then, in 2021, a dream I once whispered to myself quietly became real. I was awarded the African Adolescent Girl Fund (AGF) University Scholarship—one of the first recipients in my community. That moment changed everything. It wasn’t just about going to university; it was a symbol that the path I had chosen—one filled with struggle and sacrifice—was worth it.
Today, I walk with purpose. I carry not only my own dreams, but also the dreams of every girl in my village who has been told to settle for less. I want to be a role model—to show that girls can lead, girls can rise, and girls can rewrite the narrative. Through education, resilience, and belief, we can challenge the norms and transform communities.
I am Jane Piath—a Dinka girl who dared to believe that tradition does not have to define destiny. And to AGF, I say thank you—for lighting the way not just for me, but for the many girls who now dare to dream because they saw me walk this path.