Jozela's story

My name is Jozela Nejua and I am 25 years old. I am a mother to a four-year-old boy. I live in Hai Tacha, Yei River County, South Sudan, but I was born in Khartoum, Sudan.

We moved to South Sudan in 2008. I already spoke Arabic at that time, which helped a bit, but adjusting to a new country was challenging. I had to adapt to a different environment, learn a new culture and make new friends. I resumed my education and advanced to Primary 7 but ultimately had to drop out due to a lack of school fees. Despite this setback, my mother worked extra hard and enrolled me back in school so I could finish my primary education. Thanks to her efforts, I successfully completed primary school and joined high school.

In 2020, during my second year of high school, I became pregnant. It was an overwhelming experience, and I felt lost. I struggled to see a way forward, and I couldn’t talk to anyone. Eventually, I decided to drop out of school again, which shattered my hopes of returning to class and completing my education. I gave birth, and most of my days were spent caring for my baby.

To provide for us, I started a small cake business.

After my son turned three, I joined Women for Women International's Stronger Women, Stronger Nations programme, which has been a rewarding experience. Being back in class has brought me so much joy.

I’ve met incredible women who understand what it’s like to face challenges, like dropping out of school or dealing with an unexpected pregnancy.

Even though many of them are older than I am, they have created a supportive and nurturing environment where I feel safe and understood. It’s comforting to know that I’m not alone on this journey.