Aluet* was just four years old when her mother died of malaria. As the youngest child in a grieving family, she was taken in by a relative — an auntie who loved her deeply and did all she could to help her grow strong. But in South Sudan, where food insecurity is a daily reality for most families, love alone is often not enough. Despite her best efforts, Aluet’s auntie could not consistently provide the nourishment and stability a young child needs to survive.
When the family heard about LUV’s local safe home for vulnerable children, they brought Aluet in hope that she might have a future beyond survival. That decision changed the trajectory of her life.
Years later, Aluet was thriving. Now in high school, she embraced the opportunity she had been given — dedicating herself to her studies and serving younger students who reminded her of herself. She was known for giving back wherever she could, marked by gratitude and a sense of purpose beyond her years.
It felt as though her future was finally steady. As if the hardest chapters were behind her.
Then, one Saturday last year, everything nearly unraveled.
While visiting a local market with friends, Aluet was approached by a group of boys who told her that her auntie was dying, and she needed to come with them to say goodbye. Without hesitation, Aluet followed them back to her village.
When she arrived, she discovered the truth: her extended family had conspired to trick her into a forced marriage in exchange for a dowry of cows.
When Aluet did not return to LUV’s center that afternoon, local leaders acted immediately. Once her friends explained what had happened, James Lual Atak, LUV’s leader in the area, set out with police to search for her. Heavy rain slowed the journey, and their vehicle became stuck in the mud. Yet in a moment only God could orchestrate, villagers came to help.
James soon realized they were stranded on the very land belonging to Aluet’s family. The same boys who had deceived her were the ones that had come forward to assist.
With tears running down his face, James made it clear he didn’t want excuses. He only wanted to see Aluet and make sure she was safe.
The family told James the girl was no longer his concern.
James replied, “Aluet has been my concern since you brought her to me over 12 years ago. She was my concern when our team fed, housed, educated, and raised her up. She is in eleventh grade and has only one more year left of school. Why would you deny her of this right and force her to marry a neighbor?”
Convicted, the family brought her out. Aluet and James embraced, both weeping as she returned to LUV’s care — unmarried and free.
Aluet’s story reflects a global crisis fueled by poverty, insecurity, and social pressure. Every year, 12 million girls — 1 in 5 worldwide — are married before the age of 18, and in South Sudan, more than half of girls face this reality. With over 85% of forced marriages driven by family pressure, many girls never have someone to stand up for them — making timely intervention life-changing.
Understanding this reality is crucial to grasping the complex challenges faced by young girls in Sudan and South Sudan. To learn more about the factors that drive child marriage in areas of intense conflict and poverty, click here.
Today, Aluet is safe, re-rescued, and beginning her final year of high school — proof that when someone intervenes, love can change the ending.
*Name changed for protection.
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