Akol Mary Buot
South Sudan

Akol Mary Buot has four years of experience in the humanitarian sector. A diplomat by profession, Mary is passionate about fighting for women’s and girls’ rights to achieve gender equality and is especially concerned about early and forced marriages and gender-based violence. She is currently working as a gender officer for a national non-governmental organization and is responsible for gender mainstreaming and proactive technical support. She also works as a consultant with other humanitarian organizations to carry out knowledge, attitude, and practice surveys and to write success stories on gender-related issues. Before joining humanitarian work, Mary was an English teacher in a secondary school and was appointed to promote girls’ emotional, social, and physical well-being while in school. Mary is secretary of the Kuei Youth Association, which addresses youth unemployment, conflict resolution, forced marriages, gender-based violence, and education. Mary holds a bachelor’s degree in International Relations and Diplomatic Studies from Starford International University College in South Sudan. After completing the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders, she plans to engage with her community youth to carry out social advocacy and to share her new leadership skills so others can also have a civic mindset.