Nyadol Nyuon, the refugee who become a celebrated lawyer and activist against all odds.

Nyadol Nyuon was dealt a hand of cards against her from birth. At just four-years-old, the conflict in Ethiopia forced her family to trek 40 days to South Sudan where they settled in a refugee camp.

 

It was there that she was split up from her mother, caring for her siblings while her father led the liberation army. It was only after her father was killed when she was a teenager that she was able to reunite with her mum.

 

The family was finally granted resettlement in Australia when Nyadol was 18. With limited English and not a single dollar, Nyadol went on to obtain her HSC and study law at the Melbourne Law School.

 

She now works in the Department of Justice, decorated in accolades for her work in the combat of racism and empowering migrant and refugee women through her activism and advocacy.

 

Her tale is a truly remarkable story of beating the odds, as Jamila Rizvi sits down to find out.

 

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