“I thought I had lost my chance to learn forever. Today, I can read, write my name, and dream about my future again.” – Angelo Ring Makuach
For many people, going to school is a normal part of growing up. For Angelo Ring Makuach, it was a dream that seemed impossible.
At 39 years old, Angelo is now a Level One learner at Abyei Girls Alternative Learning Programme (ALP) Centre, where he is learning to read, write, and build the future he once believed had been taken away from him. His journey is a powerful reminder that education has the power to restore hope, dignity, and opportunity—regardless of age or circumstance.
Angelo is one of hundreds of learners benefiting from the Promoting Inclusive Accelerated Learning Programme (ALP) through Community Mobilization and Empowerment project, implemented by Integrated Humanitarian Aid (IHA) with support from UNICEF. The programme is providing vulnerable out-of-school children, youth, and adults across the Abyei Region with a second chance to access quality, inclusive education.
A Childhood Dream Interrupted
Angelo was born in Bach-Chol-Malual and enrolled at Majak-Pagai Primary School in 2001. Like many young children, he dreamed of completing his education and building a better future.
However, that dream was short-lived.
While he was still in Primary One, his father withdrew him from school and required him to care for the family’s cattle. What began as a temporary interruption became years away from the classroom.
Instead of learning to read and write, Angelo spent his childhood and early adulthood in cattle camps, where opportunities for education simply did not exist.
Life became even more difficult after the death of his father in 2013.
Because of his physical disability, Angelo says he experienced discrimination and mistreatment from his stepbrothers. The loss of his mother in March 2026 left him without family support and with little hope for the future.
Unable to continue living under those circumstances, he made the difficult decision to leave the cattle camp and travel to Abyei in search of safety and a new beginning.
Looking back on those years, Angelo recalls:
“I had completely lost hope. I believed I would never return to school because I thought my opportunity had already passed.”
A Community Meeting That Changed Everything
In early 2026, Integrated Humanitarian Aid launched community mobilization and awareness campaigns across the Abyei Region to identify and encourage out-of-school children, youth, and adults to enrol in the newly established Alternative Learning Programme.
During one of these community sensitization sessions, Angelo heard something he had never imagined.
The programme welcomed learners of all ages—including adults who had dropped out of school years earlier.
For the first time in decades, education became possible again.
“When I heard during the community mobilization that people like me could return to school, I became very happy. I realized I still had a chance to continue my education, despite my age.”
Without hesitation, Angelo enrolled in Level One at Abyei Girls Alternative Learning Programme Centre.
Learning Again, One Lesson at a Time
Returning to the classroom after more than two decades was not easy.
Angelo had to begin again from the basics, but he embraced the opportunity with determination.
He attends classes consistently, participates actively during lessons, and continues to make steady progress alongside other learners.
Today, he can recognize letters of the alphabet, identify and write numbers, write his own name independently, and confidently participate in classroom discussions.
For Angelo, the greatest achievement goes beyond literacy and numeracy.
Education has restored his confidence.
“Every day I learn something new. Today I can read letters, write numbers, and write my own name. Education has given me confidence again, and I believe it will help me build a better life.”
His teachers describe him as a committed learner whose determination inspires both younger learners and adults attending the programme.
Creating an Environment Where Learners Can Succeed
Angelo says the support provided through UNICEF has made a significant difference to his learning experience.
Teaching and learning materials supplied through the project have enabled learners to participate actively in classroom activities, while classroom benches have created a more comfortable and conducive learning environment.
These investments are helping improve both the quality of teaching and learner participation across the supported ALP centres.
Expressing his appreciation, Angelo says:
“I sincerely thank UNICEF and Integrated Humanitarian Aid for giving me another opportunity to return to school. The learning materials and classroom benches have made learning easier and more comfortable. This support has encouraged me to continue learning every day.”
Looking Beyond Level One
Although Angelo has only recently restarted his education, he already has ambitious goals.
He hopes to complete all four levels of the Alternative Learning Programme before transitioning into the formal education system.
More importantly, he wants other vulnerable people who missed the opportunity to attend school because of conflict, disability, poverty, or family circumstances to know that it is never too late to learn.
“My dream is to complete all four levels of the programme and continue with formal education. I also hope UNICEF and IHA continue supporting this programme so that many other vulnerable people can return to school and change their lives.”
Education That Restores Hope
Angelo’s journey reflects the transformative impact of the Promoting Inclusive Accelerated Learning Programme through Community Mobilization and Empowerment.
By combining community mobilization, inclusive education, trained teachers, quality teaching and learning materials, and safe learning spaces, the programme is helping children, youth, and adults who were previously excluded from education regain the opportunity to learn and build brighter futures.
For learners like Angelo, education is about much more than reading and writing.
It is about reclaiming dignity, rebuilding confidence, and believing that the future can be different.
As the programme continues across the Abyei Region, many more vulnerable learners are returning to classrooms, recovering years of lost education, and gaining the knowledge and skills needed to improve their lives and contribute to their communities.
Angelo’s story is proof that education can transform lives—no matter how long the journey back to the classroom may be.
“I lost many years without education, but today I have hope again. As long as I have this opportunity, I will continue learning because education is the key to a better future.”
