Ajang’s Journey: From Mentorship to Leadership
Ajang, the Assistant Head Girl of Don Bosco Senior Secondary School, is a dynamic and well-rounded young leader who refuses to let anything hold her back.
She joined our mentorship program in 2022 and has since been an inspiration to her fellow girls and her school, embodying the belief that Girls Are Born to Lead. Reflecting on her journey, Ajang shared, “Before joining the Crown The Woman mentorship program, I was lost. But when I joined, it was like light had come into my life. Now, I have aims, objectives, and a clear focus for my future!”
Recently, Ajang was part of the South Sudan women’s delegation that traveled to South Africa for the African Women in Dialogue (AfWID) conference under the theme: “Women’s Voice and Power as Agents of Change – Strengthening the Continental African Women Towards a New Value-Based Ecosystem.”
This was her first time traveling outside South Sudan, and she admitted feeling nervous. However, she embraced the experience, making new friends from across Africa and connecting with inspiring women. Reflecting on her journey, she said, “I have learned that as African women, we all face challenges—though they come in different forms. But when you put yourself first and stay focused, you realize you’re not alone. Through the different sessions, I found answers to questions I had long struggled with.”
Ajang’s journey is a testament to the power of mentorship, leadership, and the unwavering spirit of young African women determined to create change.
- Published in Role Models, Inspiration, People, Womens Day
Empowering Girls Through Mentorship: My Journey with Crown The Woman
Hello and welcome!
I am Adaha Dominic, a teacher at Bright Boma School and a mentor working with Crown The Woman, South Sudan. My life has been positively transformed through the mentorship programs and training offered by Crown The Woman—the bearer and nurturer of life.
With their guidance and support, I have been able to translate my learning into practical impact, especially for students, particularly girls, in schools and communities. As a leader, I have mentored many students who have gone on to become leaders themselves—leaders who advocate for and promote gender equality in schools and beyond.
Achievements Through Mentorship
1. Increased Girls’ School Attendance
Many girls are now able to continue their education due to ongoing mentorship sessions, guidance, and counseling. These programs focus on gender equality, human rights awareness, girls’ empowerment, menstrual hygiene management (MHM), and gender-based violence (GBV) education.
Through Crown The Woman, girls have access to sanitary pads, allowing them to attend school without interruption, even during their menstrual periods. This has significantly reduced absenteeism and eliminated the shame and stigma associated with menstruation. As a result, school dropout rates among girls have greatly decreased.
2. Reduced School Dropout Due to Unintended Pregnancies
Before the mentorship programs, many girls dropped out of school due to unintended pregnancies caused by a lack of awareness and education. However, through Crown The Woman’s mentorship initiatives, we have witnessed a decline in dropout rates. Some girls who had previously left school have even re-enrolled and are continuing their education.
3. Empowering Girls in Leadership
Many girls at Bright Boma School have become leaders and now participate equally with boys in school leadership positions. They speak openly during assemblies, advocate against gender-based violence, and act as the voice of girls in the school. These young leaders now campaign for a more inclusive and safe learning environment, and I am honored to be their mentor and guardian.
4. Developing Active Listeners and Decision-Makers
Most importantly, many girls have developed strong listening and decision-making skills. They actively listen to challenges and make positive, informed decisions. While there is still more work to be done, we, as mentors under Crown The Woman, remain committed to guiding them.
Reflections on My Journey
My journey with Crown The Woman has been a transformative one:
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Becoming a Mentor and Leader
Crown The Woman has shaped me into a leader who advises, guides, and supports girls, women, and the broader community. I now understand their challenges better and help them improve through counseling and mentorship. -
Understanding Human Rights and Peacebuilding
Working with Crown The Woman has deepened my understanding of human rights and peacebuilding. I now advocate for peaceful coexistence and emphasize the importance of respecting the rights of others, especially women and girls. -
Helping Girls Navigate Challenges and Make Informed Decisions
I take pride in mentoring girls and helping them develop the skills they need to overcome challenges and make informed decisions. This is made possible through continuous interaction, guidance, and mentorship.
Through Crown The Woman, I have become an advocate for inclusive, supportive, and safe learning and working environments for girls and women.
I look forward to sharing more in the future, especially the positive feedback from my mentees and their parents.
Thank you!
- Published in Role Models, Inspiration, People, Womens Day
My Reflection Journey Through Crown The Woman South Sudan.
My name is Sukeji Modi. I am glad to share my journey and early days as a mentee of Crown the Woman South Sudan, an Organization that ushered many Girls and Women to empowerment and Gender equality projects that positively influenced their lives in South Sudan.
My journey in Crown The Woman South Sudan started the Adolescent Girls mentorship program that was organized for Secondary schools through engaging activities which included Debates, mentorship sessions and Games this was the genesis of more marvelous sessions with certified mentors who always reached out to tackle sensitive topics such as menstrual health, child marriage and Gender Based Violence this birthed great impact among adolescents girls where I stand as a beneficiary and the creation of lucrative clubs in secondary schools like the Gender Based Violence club which elevated the leadership perspective of young people to the angle of Gender inclusivity in leadership.
ACHIEVEMENTS.
Through this mentorship program, I got the opportunity to attend the East Africa Girls Leadership Summit 2019 in Nairobi, which further boosted my advocacy skills. I graduated as a peer educator, which made me a mentor to my peers ever since then till date.
I furthermore attained a recommendation from the Executive Director to soar in higher spaces as she is the founder of a global organization that advocates for the rights of Girls through Girl-centered projects.
I currently serve as a member of the Girls Advisory Council, where we discuss issues affecting girls with sustainable solutions, which offers me a wide opportunity in building networks, executing global girl-centered agendas, and enhancing my leadership skills.
ANY ADVICE TO MY YOUNGER SELF.
I would advise my younger self to believe in the beauty of my dreams and grab opportunities that align with my passion, as well as keep in touch with like-minded circles, mentors, and friends.
My special thanks to Crown the Woman South Sudan and the leadership of Mrs. Riya William for tirelessly empowering girls and creating impact. This legacy speaks and continues to be a beacon of Hope and transformation in South Sudan.
Many young girls who benefitted from the mentorship activities of Crown The Woman can attest to the role models this space introduced to them beyond the activities of impact. There are infinite stories of resilience, growth, and empowerment that the awesome organization has written in the pages of every South Sudanese adolescent girl who attended the programs.
Donors and stakeholders remain the driving force behind the tremendous impact that Crown The Woman has driven in South Sudan. May it continue to reach other girls who will also benefit and actualize their dreams and create a GBV-free South Sudan.
- Published in Inspiration, People, Role Models, Womens Day
CREW mourns the painful death of one her club leaders
Crown The Woman-South Sudan today 11th/July 2019 mourns the death of one of our Club leaders from Don Bosco Secondary school by the names Deng John Ezekiel Kiir who has served as the Secretary General of CREW’S Gender based violence club in his school since 2017 from the time the club was established to date. Late Deng was a student in senior four and was set to sit for his final South Sudan certificate at the end of the academic year 2019/2020.
Deng John was a young promising man with a bright future who diligently fought for the rights of women and girls in his school. Back in 2017 he and other colleagues were the founders of the Crown The Woman-Gender Based Violence Club at Don Bosco Secondary school but also besides that they also formed the scouts club and Journalism club in his school. At the time he was campaigning to stand for the position of Secretary General, we can still remember the ululating and applauding of the students even before he could say a word, it was massive and that displayed just how much the students loved him because of unique skills he possessed and how he treated his fellow students.
Creativity, humility, friendliness, loving, a joker, intelligent, funny, empathetic and always dedicated were qualities he possessed as a leader and he was rare gem that many others’ looked up to. With tears in our eyes we would like to say that the attachments and friendship we have built with him over the years, the memories of the work we did together, the times we danced together and served community as a team shall not fade. We regret to acknowledge that Don Bosco and CREW family has lost an icon, a leader in the making and he will never be forgotten for the service he has selflessly rendered to community and South Sudan at large.
We at Crown The Woman-South Sudan send out our heartfelt condolences to the family of Late Deng Joseph Ezekiel Kiir and the community of Don Bosco Secondary School. He will be missed by many and may his soul rest in eternal peace until we meet again.
- Published in People
SHOULD MENSTRUATION BE THE OBSTACLE TO OUR EDUCATION????????????
Rejoice Santo, aged 18 years in Senior three at Nile Model on this International menstrual hygiene day decides to tell her story, to inspire other sisters that are going through difficulties as hers not to give up.
While on a visit to the school last week, we were able to meet Rejoice through one of our focal point teachers of the gender based violence club who explained of a young girl who had come to school to beg that she be given space to study despite not having any money to pay for her school fees.
Innocently she came walking slowly after being called from class to come meet some ladies who wanted to talk to her and just know more about her. She said hello and then we introduced ourselves, where we were from and our intentions too, at first she looked tense and scared but after we started the chat and convinced her that we were her big sisters and she could confide in us because all we wanted is to help her. Thanks to our campaign “I am my sister’s keeper” We are responsible for keeping our sisters and taking care of each other.
She immediately opened up and started narrating her sad story. She said, “My father passed away long time then followed by my mother and so we were left us orphans. My elder brother who struggled to paid my school fees completed her senior four this year in January after which we lost our mum and after that incident our house in Sherikat was also burnt down one night by robbers and so we had no place to shelter ourselves. My brother decided that we go to the village so that he will be able to do charcoal business and enable me to come back to school. His charcoal business was going on well and due to jealousy, he was poisoned and he died. With sadness in her eyes and pain in her voice she said, “ I had no one to stay with in the village so I decided to talk to my uncle who stays in Juba and he asked me to come back and stay with him in Juba. While asked about how she is treated she confidently replied that, “uncle and his wife treats me well, they gave me a place to stay and food to eat though he cannot afford to support me in school and also buy for me other personal items such as sanitary towels, lotion.
Rejoice Santo
Picture: Rejoice Santo smiling at the camera after the meeting with crew staff
Tears filled up my eyes after taking a look at her and seeing that she didn’t have uniform, shoes nor stockings but she was not complaining. She said all she wanted was just to study and an understanding teacher helped her out that is why she was in school now despite her late arrival.
One of my colleague Sony asked her about how she deals with her menstruation when it comes since there is nobody who provides her with sanitary towels and she replied, “I use a piece of cloth and stay home away from school until my menses are done meaning I miss lessons taught for good days and it pains me a lot but what can I do? I asked how she moves to school from Lologo 2 a journey that is about 30 minutes’ drive. She answered, on foot. I start my journey by 11:00 am in the morning and arrive at school by lunch time then my classes start from 2:00pm to 5:00pm and I have to also walk back home.”
Despite the challenges Rejoice was going through, I saw determination, hope and courage in her because while narrating her story she was strong. While speaking to her yesterday I asked her what her message would be to other girls on this day of menstrual hygiene day and she said, “I have to miss classes during menstruation period, because using a piece of cloth is not a guarantee anything could happen and once blood stains your skirt, it will be shameful, but besides that, I am happy that I am getting Education and although it is a struggle because I have to walk a long distance for me it is okay because I believe that once am Educated in the near future all my suffering will come to an end so we should not let menstruation be an obstacle to hinder us from performing well.”
Let us support our girls…
#FreeSanitaryTowels.
#IAmMySister’s keeper.
- Published in People