Meet Athiei Dut Malual, a 19-year-old South Sudanese English teacher from Rumbek, South Sudan. She was born in Khartoum, Sudan, in 2006. After the civil war, Athiei and her family returned to South Sudan and currently, she is an intern at St. Peter Claver Computer and Ecological Training Center, teaching English for the Jesuit Worldwide Learning Program in Rumbek. 

This is her story: 

“One of my major accomplishments is being a female teacher in a society where women are often seen as less capable”.  

My name is Athiei Dut Malual, and I was born in Khartoum, Sudan. In 2008, my family moved to Uganda, where I grew up and started my primary education. I spent twelve years of my life in Uganda before returning to South Sudan in 2020.  

I started further training in a computer course at St Peter Claver.  This has transformed my life! 

 After completing my computer courses, I was invited back by the centre to become an intern for the Global English Language program, helping to teach English for A1 learners who want to learn English as their second language.

I was also given the opportunity to join an online teacher training program called the Caregivers Teacher Training Program for 28 weeks, which I started in September last year. As I teach, I am learning how to become a better teacher and how to effectively share the knowledge I have with my community.  

“My students can express themselves better now compared to when they first came. It makes me very happy to know that what I am doing is having a positive impact on someone’s life—it’s something truly wonderful”.  

Most of my students are speakers of other languages who want to learn English for conversation, business, or studies. This experience has been wonderful; I am getting to know different people from various parts of the world!

I also teach Arabic speakers, even though I am not an Arabic speaker—I understand only a little.

In my teaching, I use English to explain concepts. I want my students to avoid relying on translations to learn English, as this might not help them learn faster. I simplify my explanations as much as possible so that they can understand. I have seen improvement; my students can express themselves better now compared to when they first came.  

It makes me very happy to know that what I am doing is having a positive impact on someone’s life—it’s something truly wonderful! 

One of my major accomplishments is being a female teacher in a society where women are often seen as less capable.  

The narrative is that women should be wives or housewives, and when they see a woman, they often view her as an object, a transaction for cows or wealth. As a young woman teaching, with most of my students being male, I feel motivated knowing that I am capable of doing what many believe is a role only suitable for men. 

This perspective drives me and makes me love what I do.  I am so thankful to all the donors because, without their support – I wouldn’t be here today. 

If they hadn’t introduced this program or provided funds to run it, I wouldn’t have this opportunity.  

I would like to express my appreciation to them and emphasize that what they have done is making an impact, particularly for me, as it helps me give back to the community from which I came. It has also benefited many others, positively impacting their lives.  

To the girls out there: people will always talk and say many things, but no matter what they say, you have the ability to succeed! 

This Christmas you can do something truly special and empower women, like Athiei, by giving a gift which will train a student teacher to diploma level nurturing the passion and dedication of men and women wanting to make a positive impact in their communities. 

This gift of teacher training will change the life of an individual as well as the generations of children in their classrooms! 

Browse our Christmas catalogue today, here