From refugee to role model: a young girl’s journey through life skills education
“I wasn’t happy,” she admits, “but I told myself, repeating doesn’t mean I’ve failed. It means I have another chance to do better.”
At just 17 years old, Bakhita Aluel is living proof of how resilience, opportunity, and support can transform a life. A refugee from South Sudan, Bakhita arrived in Uganda in 2022 and is now a Primary Seven pupil at Adjumani Girls Primary School. Her journey has been far from easy—but with the help of a UNICEF-supported Life Skills programme funded by the David Beckham 7 Fund through the UK National Committee for UNICEF she is forging a path to a brighter future.
“When I came to Uganda, I could only speak Dinka, Arabic, and a little English,” Bakhita says. “But here, everyone spoke Madi or Acholi. I felt lost and alone in the classroom.”
Her teachers often translated lessons into the local language, leaving her further behind. Although she tried to ask questions, not all teachers were patient. The language barrier affected her academic performance, and by the end of the year, she was asked to repeat Primary Five.
“I wasn’t happy,” she admits, “but I told myself, repeating doesn’t mean I’ve failed. It means I have another chance to do better.”
Bakhita made it her goal to learn the local language. She practised with classmates, paid close attention in class, and began to grow in confidence. Her hard work paid off—she passed her exams with 15 aggregates and was promoted to Primary Six in 2024. Now in her final year of primary school, she says with pride, “I’m a candidate this year! And I will be known all over Uganda, not just for talking about my dreams, but for achieving them.”
A turning point in Bakhita’s journey came when her teachers selected her to join the life skills club, a structured co-curricular initiative supported by UNICEF and the Ministry of Education and Sports, aimed at helping adolescents gain practical skills and build confidence.
“At first, I didn’t even know who I was or what I could do,” she reflects. “But through the club, I discovered so much about myself.”
The club equipped her with the knowledge that extended well beyond textbooks. She learned how to maintain personal hygiene, particularly during menstruation—a topic often overlooked in many classrooms. “Before life skills, I didn’t know I should bathe regularly during my period. Now, I do—and I even help my younger sisters understand these things.”
She also learned how to make reusable sanitary pads, a skill that has enabled her to attend school consistently. “I no longer miss school because of my period. I feel confident and clean. I even help other girls who don’t have pads.”
Beyond hygiene, Bakhita developed leadership skills. She learned how to advise friends who had dropped out of school to return. “Life skills taught me how to help others. I tell them, that learning has no age. You are not alone.”
That lesson came to life when her cousin, also a teenage mother, moved in with her in Adjumani in 2023. At just 18, her cousin had dropped out of school and was raising a baby. Their family was divided over whether she should return to school. Bakhita’s father, an educated man, intervened. “He told my uncle that even if she had a child, she still had a right to education.”
Initially ashamed, Bakhita’s cousin was reluctant. But Bakhita stood by her. “I told her, we even have teenage mothers in our school who are doing well. People may talk, but that shouldn’t stop you from learning.”
“I told her, we even have teenage mothers in our school who are doing well. People may talk, but that shouldn’t stop you from learning.”
Eventually, her cousin agreed to register. She was placed in Primary Six after failing the interview for Primary Seven. However, balancing school and childcare proved challenging. The maid hired to care for the baby was unreliable, and her cousin struggled to keep up. Despite support from UNICEF, who paid her school fees, the burden at home was too heavy. She ultimately returned to Juba.
“It was hard to see her go,” Bakhita says. “But I’m proud that she tried. I hope she will come back.”
Bakhita now dreams of becoming a doctor—one who can help those in need, particularly in South Sudan. “Life Skills has not only given me knowledge, but it has also helped me see who I want to be.”
Her transformation has not gone unnoticed. Konyio Gobbi Rebecca, Headmistress of Adjumani Girls Primary School, has seen firsthand the impact of the Life Skills programme that is funded by the David Beckham 7 Fund through the UK National Committee for UNICEF.
“This initiative has been an incredible journey for us—not just as educators, but as a community working to empower learners,” she says. “The programme benefits all learners. Girls now support each other emotionally and academically. We’ve seen an increase in enrolment, especially among disadvantaged children.”
She adds that the programme has contributed to improved academic performance, better hygiene practices and stronger collaboration between teachers and pupils. “Through this programme, we’re not just improving individuals—we’re building a resilient school community.”
In Uganda, where more than 1.5 million refugees have sought safety, stories like Bakhita’s are becoming more common thanks to initiatives like Life Skills. For a girl who once struggled to find her voice, Bakhita now speaks for many.
“I’m not just a refugee,” she says. “I’m a role model.”
