Seeking Sanctuary at the Local Church
Bol, a young student, finds the help he needs at his local church.
He never expected to be put in this situation.
Bol, a 21-year-old student from Warapac village in Aweil Centre, laughs with his classmates by the roadside, pointing at a much too overloaded vehicle heading to the market. Despite his lighthearted demeanour, Bol carries the weight of a difficult situation. As a Form two student living with his parents and four siblings, he struggles to pay for his education and depends heavily on his brother for financial support.
One day, Bol’s parents informed him they intended to marry him off to a young woman from their village. In their close-knit community, where many of Bol’s peers are already married with children, his parents believed marriage would bring benefits like communal support. However, for Bol, who had started his education late and valued it deeply, this news was devastating. He had no intention of marrying before finishing school and wanted the freedom to choose his life partner.
The announcement left him feeling distraught, unsupported, and let down by his family, whom he expected to support his educational journey. In his despair, Bol remembered hearing about trauma healing groups on the radio but had dismissed them as something for only women and girls. This time, desperate for help, he sought counsel at his local church.
When he met the counsellor, Bol poured out his feelings of anger and hopelessness. The counsellor comforted him, assuring him that they would talk to his family and work toward a peaceful resolution. This reassurance lifted a heavy burden from his heart.
Over several weekends, the counsellor held sessions with Bol, his parents, and his older brother. It was a challenging time, as neither side wanted to give in. Bol remained resolute in his decision to finish school before marrying, and after much persuasion from his brother, his parents finally agreed. They promised he could complete his education and marry only after finishing his final exams.
Bol accepted this arrangement, hoping that, with time, his parents would allow him to marry when he was more financially and emotionally stable after finishing school. For now, thanks to the counseling and patient negotiations, Bol can focus on his studies, knowing he avoided a forced marriage that would have brought misery to both him and his partner.
*Pseudonym
