‘My father is a hero, even if I sleep on the streets as
mosquitoes sing for me lullaby songs, dustbin is my restaurant, polluted waters
is my drinks. I take the pride of being a hero child; and that keeps me smiling
for my father did not die in vain’, she said with trembling of hope in her
voice
by WenneMadyt Dengs
Bor,
April 3, 2017 (Jonglei Times)-Towards the closure of
the inter-schools peace competition, the prizes were being given to the winners.
. The USAID funded peace messaging program drew thirteen schools (six primary
schools in town, one primary school in PoC, and six high schools).
 |
| Adau Abraham Jongroor |
I
was extremely exhausted and didn’t have courage to take more photos of the
event. All of sudden, I happened to hear the name, ‘Adau Abraham Jongroor!’
‘What?’ I inwardly asked myself. This name Abraham Jongroor inflicted into my
thoughts and I began to think... the thought came into my mind and I remembered
when I was listening to the news of Radio Tamazuj on 6th Jan 2014.
“Abraham Jongroor Deng, a brigadier-general in SPLA Division 8,
was killed on 5th Jan 2014 in fighting near Bor. A South Sudanese army (SPLA)
general was on Sunday killed by forces loyal to former vice president Riek Machar
as the government battled dissidents currently in control of Jonglei state
capital, Bor”.
Undoubtedly, Adau took the prize in joy
after she theatrically convinced the judges of interschool competition. I waited impatiently for the competition to
close and meet with this young girl who naturally resembles her late father
both physically and in her dream. I knew all she needed is encouragement and to feel loved
recognized.
The drama festival came to an end and all the children
dispersed. I was seriously committed to finding her out, and to have brief
interview with her. I shook hands with her. She was overwhelmed with joy; I
asked her about where she resides, and whom she stays with. Adau began with a
while girlish smile and said she lives with her mother and siblings in Arek,
about 10 KM away from Jonglei state capital, Bor. Arek is an isolated shanty
suburban adjacently located at the shore of river Nile. It is infested with
mosquitoes and has barely clean drinking water, even to the standard of Bor,
the capital of Jonglei state. She is not
bothered about where she lives. After
all, she has her dad’s name to be proud of.
‘My father is a hero, even if I sleep on the streets as
mosquitoes sing for me lullaby songs, dustbin is my restaurant, polluted waters
is my drinks. I take the pride of being a hero child; and that keeps me smiling
for my father did not die in vain’, she said with trembling of hope in her
voice
But what makes Adau extraordinary, at least to my eye and
experience, is the great love that she has for peace-building.
"Let’s unite to be, one Nation and say no to war and accept
peace for our Nation, for our people and for our motherland for our better
lives" she said.
She
is a standard seven pupil at Martyrs primary school and her elder sister is in
primary eight. She confirmed to me that she was in the third position for her
final term in primary, which she said to be unbelievable since she started her
primary school.
Adau
Abraham completed her nursery school, and up to primary five in Kenya before
the death of her father ended her source of school fees. She said her fees are
being paid in local primary school in Bor by her uncle who is in abroad.
The
key challenges which are currently facing this young girl, like other South
Sudanese girl-children, include long walk from of about 10 KM from home to
school. She also complained the use of one pair of uniform since she joined
this school in Bor. Her sponsor can’t purchase a second pair of uniform that
she needs.
She
promised to work hard to get good grade to be accepted in Alliance High School
in 2019, after complete primary school in 2018.
Adau
promised to become a movie star or a journalist in future citing that she wants
to advocate for girl child education in South Sudan. She hopes that girls have
equal rights.
©2017
Jonglei Times Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be
published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections or
for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, send
your email to jongleitimes@gmail.com.
We publish news and views ranging from vigorous opponents of
governments to government publications and spokespersons.
Publishers named above each report are responsible for their
own content, which Jonglei Times does not have the legal right to edit or
correct.
No comments:
Post a Comment