Hon. Hellen Ngaidok Lukurnyang Lado, a Member of the Transitional National Assembly (SPLM-IO, Pibor constituency), shares her powerful journey from surviving early marriage to achieving her position in parliament during an interview with Eye Radio on May 29, 2025. Credit: Awan Moses/Eye Radio

Hon. Hellen Ngaidok Lukurnyang Lado stands as a testament to a mother’s fierce dedication, having escaped the fate of early marriage through her widowed mother’s unwavering commitment to education during South Sudan’s civil war.

Hellen and her family originally lived in Pibor. Still, after her father, a freedom fighter, lost his life before the peace agreement, her mother prioritized the safety and education of her eight children, relocating them to Kakuma refugee camp.

Ngaidok deeply appreciates her mother’s timely decision, believing it saved her from early marriage and paved the way for her current position.

Overcoming childhood challenges

Growing up, Hellen faced immense pressure, particularly as a girl in Greater Pibor where early marriage was common and associated with wealth in cattle.

“Growing up as a girl child in greater Pibor is always associated with wealth in terms of cattle as payment for dowry, but in my case, I had supportive parents,” Ngaidok recalls.

Her mother battled hard to ensure all her children, including Hellen as the second-born, attended school, realizing its importance after her elder sister missed out on a formal education.

Balancing schooling with traditional expectations was tough; girls were expected to shoulder household chores and care for younger siblings.

Ngaidok remembers being approached for marriage at just five years old, but her widowed mother bravely refused, insisting on education.

In 2005, they moved to Kakuma refugee camp, and by 2009, they secured urban refugee status in Nairobi, Kenya.

Hellen’s academic drive was fueled by her love for learning and her excellent performance. She often topped her class, which attracted well-wishers who provided crucial financial support.

She fondly remembers General Kennedy, a community leader and now a member of the Council of States, who once rewarded her with a cow. This cow was sold and covered her tuition fees for two years, an act of generosity she vows never to forget.

Path to politics and overcoming scrutiny

Hellen always harbored a dream of becoming a politician, deeply inspired by her late father’s legacy as a freedom fighter.

“My father fought for this country, though he did not make it to the infantry. His legacy is one of the reasons that inspired me. I felt that since my father is no longer in the picture, I would continue his legacy through education,” she explains.

She joined the SPLM-IO’s National Liberation Council and remained committed even after the 2016 war broke out.

In 2021, her party recommended her for a parliamentary seat. Her husband, despite belonging to a different party, was the first to encourage her.

“He asked whether I was ready to take up the role. I said yes, why not! For me, it was not about money but about the role that I want to play in the politics of my country and now that the opportunity is here, I have to go for it.”

She faced skepticism due to her age and gender, with some even questioning her integrity, but her husband’s unwavering support helped her navigate these challenges.

“I am happy that I have a very supportive husband,” she affirms.

A vision for the future

Hon. Hellen Ngaidok harbors even bigger dreams. “I hope that I want to be more than what I am today. If things go well, I would like to hold a ministerial position that will allow me to do more because there are some limitations in the parliament,” she shares.

Her message to all South Sudanese is clear: “The world is moving forward and women are taking up positions, be it in politics or any other kind of work. Let us empower our women, let us encourage them to take up positions in any profession.”