Sudanese heroes?

They say there are no heroes anymore.  But walk down any street and you will find them. The mothers who work, the fathers who strive, the children who overcome. They are not larger than life, but they are larger than their own lives. Their names are not famous, but their virtues are. Hard work. Common sense. An unshakable belief in themselves. If you are looking for a hero, look around.There are very many women and men out there in the world trying to make their dreams come true.

In Africa it is not uncommon to find women striving so as to make things come right on their side because they are too often considered inferior. In South Sudan, in particular, this mentality has always weighed them down. This is one of the important reasons why they are less considered in most tribal groups in the country.

According to the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), the Government of Southern Sudan is trying to enforce the twenty five percent shares in leadership for women – an opportunity to encourage them to take up active roles in the country at every level. But the goal is not near being reached because most women are not educated. In Africa even when a woman is educated, she has to take a lot of courage and strength in order to involve her self in the fight for life.

There are very many foreigners working and living in Sudan. Their number drastically increased right after the signing of CPA. These people, most of them from neighboring countries, such as Uganda, Democratic Republic of Congo, Central African Republic, Chad, Kenya, and Ethiopia entered the country looking for jobs.

Nfula Prossy doing her daily chores

I met Nafula Prossy. She is a Ugandan. She has lived and worked in Yei town, since 2007. She is a mother of three – Fibie 12 years, Rose 9, and Gift 2. She left her husband and the two older kids back in her country to come and work in South Sudan. She teaches at Dar El Salaam Primary School of the United Methodist Church, Yei. I asked her why she decided to take such a move. And she told me:

“You know I have always wanted to be my own boss. I want to raise enough money so that I can establish a school – both kindergarden and primary. This has always been my dream.”

She believes her dream will come true someday. She earns 300 Sudanese Pounds a month, an equivalent to about 130 US Dollars.

Even though she earns little, she always saves part of it every month. Her goal is to raise 10 Million Uganda Shillings (about $6.000 US Dollars). “I already have a half of that money. Now I have got to work hard again to hit the target. And then I will finally get there,” she added.

Nafula sacrifices a lot. But she remains committed and is in no doubt that she will reach her goal.

The world we are living in is becoming a world of merit competition - not prejudices anymore, but facts and truth. But unless women in Sudanese society stretch out they may not overcome the sickness of inferiority that they have faced for too long.