Before South Sudan gained its independence from Sudan in 2011 my family was internally displaced. In 2013 I traveled to Uganda for studies because of the poor education system, war and absence of peace in my country.
After graduating I went back to South Sudan. One day a certain woman visited our home my father introduced me to her then he left, she asked me, are you his son’s wife? Why didn’t she believe that I’m the daughter according to my father’s introduction? I laughed and told her NO. Then she asked me do you go to school?
And I answered I’m currently working I finished my first degree in 2017, and then she replied oh you’re very young and working. I looked at her smiled and told her since you think I’m young for work why don’t you also think I am young for marriage. I am a Peacebuilder and a Youth, Peace, and Security Activist working with a Youthlead NGO. We focus on Peace-building and conflict-resolution non-violently, Gender Equality, Girl’s and Women’s empowerment through training and Education, and responsible leadership training.
Our intervention is based on behavior change communication through dialogue we engage with grassroots communities, Youth leaders, women leaders, the government, and religious leaders to dialogue on peaceful co-existence. In 2019 I traveled to India Dharamsala where a group of Youth from the World’s most violent regions had an intergenerational conversation with The Dalai Lama organized by the United States Institute of Peace. The Dalai Lama is the spiritual leader of the Tibetans who lives as refugees in India.
As a Peacebuilder, I asked how His Holiness had encouraged his people to overcome their differences and work together with the host community. He replied that the strong influence of Buddhism and non-violence throughout Tibetan society made a great difference. I was inspired by the His leadership as a refugee.
I dream to live in a world of peace and happiness. I dream of a world that believes girls are not brides, a generation equality world, In every country in the world. women and girls face obstacles and discrimination solely because of their gender, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie a Nigerian writer once said what matters more is our attitude, our mindset what we believe and what we value about gender, what if in raising children we focus on ability instead of gender?
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