A 10-year-old girl from Wulu County, whose identity is withheld for privacy, is urgently seeking support from the government and non-governmental organizations to return to school. The young survivor shared her harrowing experience with the Catholic Radio Network (CRN), revealing how her father’s abandonment left her family in dire financial straits, unable to afford school fees.

In an emotional interview, the girl expressed her distress at watching her friends attend school while she remains at home. Driven by isolation and despair, she attempted to take her own life, feeling she had no other option. “Our father left us with our mother, and we don’t have food in the house,” she said. “I can’t go to school because my mother can’t afford it. When I asked her, she told me she can’t pay because my father left her alone. I thought if this is what life is like, maybe it would be better not to live.”

Despite her struggles, the girl’s longing for education remains strong. She hopes for a sponsor to support her return to school, dreaming of studying, building a future, and helping her family and community. “I’m still not happy because I’m not in school,” she said. “If there’s someone who can help me, I’ll be so grateful.”

This story highlights the urgent need for support for children in vulnerable situations to access education and mental health resources, underscoring the essential role of education in shaping the lives of children in Rumbek Lake State.