A 48-year old man from Rumbek received the recognition from Loreto Girls Secondary School for his commitment to postpone marriage and allow his daughter to complete education.
Joseph Maker Mading, an accountant with the State Ministry of Finance, received a Certificate of Courage for resisting to marry off his 14-year old Deborah Adut for 90 cows after his brothers and other family members fought physically with him.He told Good News Radio that he was not against his daughter’s marriage, but he wanted to educate and prepare her future first.
He added that he had ten daughters and all of them were at school.
Fourteen-year old Deborah Adut thanked her father for accepting to suffer violence for her to continue education.
She said her father was the only person who struggled to protect her when the uncles came home last December with the intention to marry her off by force.
Principal Orla Treacy presented the Certificate of Courage to Mr Maker during a special ceremony to mark Women’s Day at Loreto Secondary School.
She said Mr Maker’s commitment to girl-child education was a courageous act that must be recognized.
Sr Orla reminded the students about the struggles of some parents to educate their daughters.
The young man who wanted to marry Adut reportedly took another woman when Mr Maker turned down his offer.
Early and forced marriages are the main factors affecting girl child education in Lakes State.