South Sudanese former top student is homeless and living along Juba-Bor road with two children

Eight years ago, Monica Atong Deng's success story was celebrated across South Sudan when she led the nation in year 12 national exam. After years, Atong's life took a turn, and she is now homeless with two children. Atong is living in tarp shelter along Juba-Bor road, and her children are struggling to have food on the table. Atong narrated her story on SBS Dinka radio today.

Monica and her children outside their tarp shelter Source: Doryn Mabior

Monica Atong Deng graduated in years 12 as the top student in South Sudan in 2012. Atong was born in Khartoum but came to South Sudan when Sudan was about to split. She was a brilliant student through her primary and secondary studies. After completing the year 12 in 2012, she was financially helped by Jonglei State Governor Kuol Manyang Juuk and the first lady Ayen Mayardit.

 "After the results came out, Governor Kuol Manyang gave me some money. Kok Alat gave me a golden chain, and I was given the scholarship to study at Cairo University. I enrolled for the first semester and then returned to South Sudan in 2013. I had the hope that I will resume my university studies, but that was not the case."

Monica and Childre's sleeping mart inside the tarp shelter Source: Doryn Mabior

Atong was given enough money to educate herself, but that money was lost when the war broke out in 2013. Her mother's shop was destroyed in Bor, and everything they had could not recover.  Her life and that of the mother turn to worse. Atong thought marriage would change the situation, but that even made things worse.

 

"Some of my relatives pushed me to be married with the notion that my life and that of my mother would change. I am married to a soldier who only earns 4000 pounds, and he has other wives. I turned out to be the neglected one, and my life was not the same again."

 Atong told SBS Dinka that situation forced her to withdraw from the public, especially from her schoolmates and those aware of her story.

 "I would wrap myself not to be seen by my classmates, but I often sell soft drinks on the streets in Juba. If I'm lucky, then I will have something to feed my children, but if not, they will stay without food. I'm living in a tarp shelter along the Bor-Juba street with my two children and my mother. I'm suffering but hopeful that my life will change one day."

Monica is breastfeeding and her four years old son is sick too. Source: Doryn Mabior

Atong's story surfaced again after the friend took her photo and posted on social media. Atong's four-year-old son is sick, but there is no money to send the child to the hospital. The father of the children is not supporting her.