Ajwok Mary is Helping Change the Narrative
War, tribalism, lack of resources, and injustice continue to control the narrative of Africa. These deep-rooted issues often make us feel aimless, not knowing where to start or how to help.
We have been on a people over projects journey. We truly believe that we can move forward with hope knowing there is a generation of young leaders with a passion to change the trajectory and transform their community and country from the inside out.
At 4africa, we call these future leaders Discipled Nation Builders—individuals who know and live a Jesus-first life, who put others before themselves, and are in the ruthless pursuit of living out their purpose, passion, and calling to make generational change.
Leaders like Ajwok Mary, a former Leadership Academy of South Sudan (LASS) student, are paving the way.
Mary was born in South Sudan. Like many, her early life was marked by displacement and the need to escape the violence in South Sudan, leading her and her family to seek refuge at the Kiryandongo Refugee Settlement in Uganda for several years.
Mary did not let the corruption and war around her dictate her future. She secured a full scholarship for primary and secondary school. After finishing secondary school, she returned to South Sudan for the first time since she left as a child to attend LASS.
At LASS, she served as the Spiritual Mother for the Hannah Care Group—a discipleship group formed when incoming classes join the academy. Mary went on to serve as President of the Builders of Hope Club—a club that focused on helping vulnerable children in Nimule, South Sudan, with basic needs, scholastic materials, and offered discipleship classes. These enriching experiences allowed Mary to explore her passion for helping others and acquire soft skills, such as communication and public speaking.
While taking her final exams in Uganda, Mary’s journey continued as she engaged with the Global Grassroots organization in Kiryandongo, the same settlement where her family found refuge many years before. It was full circle for Mary, who was inspired to join Global Grassroots in order to help young girls stay in school. This work opened the door for Mary to join the Whitaker Peace and Development Initiative—a vehicle for an array of peace-building programs, initiatives, and campaigns to foster peace and reconciliation in disadvantaged and fragile communities.
In September 2022, Mary was selected to represent the Whitaker Peace Project at the United Nations Summit in New York. She is now a proud part of the African United Nations Youth Delegate Program. As a UN Youth Fellow, she engages with youth across South Sudan to help them understand the work of the United Nations and represents the voices and the needs of the young people of South Sudan.
Mary believes all her achievements and her incredible journey would not have been possible without her time at LASS.
In her own words, “Peacebuilding work may seem like a slow, long, and lonely journey sometimes but a few steps in the right direction give me hope for a better world. My biggest motivation has always been my experience of being born during war, growing up as a refugee and now working with refugees. There is hope out there that beauty can still come out of ashes of conflicts and war.”
Mary’s story is a testament to the power of determination, resilience, and the transformative impact of education and leadership programs. Mary is living proof of the profound change one person can make when given the opportunity and a heart eager to give back.
Together, we are changing the narrative, giving power to the leaders that are deconstructing the generational issues and rebuilding a peaceful and powerful future for Africa.
