Mary Henry facilitates the GLOW Program in South Sudan – Girls Learn their Own Worth (GLOW). She graduated from the Jesuit Loyola Secondary School (LSS) in Wau following her state exams in Senior 4, and got a place on the school’s 2-year internship program, which helps students get into employment.
Trained by a retired Irish principal, Eilis McDonald, in facilitating the GLOW module, Mary has been facilitating sessions on adolescence and menstrual health management in South Sudan across the 9 Jesuit schools and institutes. Accompanied by her colleague, Emmanuel Loboka, who facilitates the Boys & Adolescence module, they’ve facilitated sessions for 814 students (395 boys and 419 girls) since September.
The GLOW Program also assists students with Dignity Kits (bucket, soap, etc) and GLOW Pads. These reusable pads are made at the Tailoring Department at LSS Wau. Since many adolescent girls can’t afford disposable pads, reusable pads are in high demand, and crucial if you don’t want to miss days at school.
Girls already have so many challenges in South Sudan, so getting an equal chance to education is one of the problems we address. Caroline Sanga, who runs the Jesuit South Sudan Development Office, came up with the name GLOW and has been instrumental on turning it into a program that would affect positive change for girls.
“As an LSS alumni, Mary is deeply committed to school’s mission, playing a key role in administration and the education of other LSS students in menstrual hygiene. She’s a great asset to LSS and the broader Jesuit mission in South Sudan.” Caroline Sanga
So far, Mary has worked with the students on gathering 119 questionnaires to establish a baseline on the impact menstrual health currently has on
the female students. Following 2 years of the GLOW Program, the same survey will be conducted again to measure its impact.
Students in rural areas find it very difficult to access disposable pads, and some have to resort to using leaves. Given a girl in South Sudan is more likely to die in childbirth, than finish secondary school, the challenges facing girls is already immense. The GLOW Program is one way your support is making a meaningful change in the youngest country in the world as it celebrates its 13th birthday.
We ask Mary:
Mary Henry is facilitator of the GLOW program in South Sudan
What do you love most about the GLOW Program?
“It’s ability and interest in standing with women, and girls in particular.”
What makes you a good facilitator of the GLOW Program?
Mary laughs, “I used to get into so much trouble when I was a student at LSS. I was always challenging the teachers, challenging what is needed at the school. Turns out, that energy for life is serving me well. I am able to connect with the youth across the Jesuit schools in South Sudan in a way others can’t, talk with them, and accompany them through their challenges. Talking on the radio, has given me the chance to reach those even beyond the Jesuit schools. It’s such an opportunity…when other girls and women find it difficult to get that platform to talk about issues affecting them personally.”
How will you be celebrating Christmas this year?
“Well, there’s nothing big in my program for Christmas Day. I will be home with my parent and my siblings. I’ll go to church in the morning. If the Salesian Sisters have a Christmas chorus, I’ll go join them. Then I’ll just stay at home, eat cookies and go visit my relatives.”