Three Kenyans, Fredrick, Onesmus and Mark recently visited Southern Sudan to carry out local capacity building. The trio work with the Salvation Army and local community based organizations in their localities.They share their experience in a nation trying to reinvent itself.

A.E: What are you out to do?

Mark: We challenge people, especially the youth, to identify their strengths and exploit it for socio-economic growth

Fredrick: People take charge of their own destiny when they are appropriately inspired and facilitated. 

A.E: Name some of your activities

Onesmus: In Makueni district of Eastern Kenya for example, we carry out youth capacity development. We challenge youths to set up positive goals in life and achieve them.  We also teach them how to care for vulnerable people and elicit community response. On a wider scale, we inculcate entrepreneurial values in the community. 

Fredrick: In western Kenya, we hold a child to child program based in a local primary school. Under this program, children sit together and exchange ideas. They also learn how to support themselves. 

A.E: Are your efforts yielding fruit? 

Mark: Absolutely. I am really challenged by Neema women group in Kithituni village of Makueni. Despite the fact that it is made up of widows, it meets to inculcate entrepreneurial skills and self esteem among the members.       The group meets every week and contributes Kshs 10 per week. Every member is given this money in turns. The group currently owns a tree nursery, poultry and dairy cow. Proceeds from these are re-invested and partly used to support orphans. 

Fredrick: In the child to child program, almost every child member has a goat to keep. The group rears goats which it distributes to members once they calf. Children have also attained a high level of responsibility especially in child headed homes. 

A.E: Back to Sudan. What were your experiences?

Onesmus: We mainly operated from Southern Sudan. This region has a favorable climate compared to North Sudan.  Southern Sudan is well watered and has fertile soils.  The natives grow groundnuts, simsim, sorghum, cassava sweet potatoes and millet.

Mark: Coffee and tea grow wildly and unattended because of war.  In the dry areas, cattle are reared. Elgon teak trees are prevalent in Southern Sudan.

Fred: Though in dire need of external help, the Sudanese are willing to be self reliant and live peacefully.

A.E: Did you experience any Culture shock? 

Onesmus: Road transport is generally poor.  Pick up vans and trucks are major modes of transport. It is not something new to miss a flight or have it cancelled. Due to bad roads and detonated bridges, one is not assured of reaching his destination in good time. Due to flash floods, one may spend in the bush.

Fred: Bullets spent cartridges and other ammunition are common in the bush. The sound of gunshots is the order of the day.  Transactions that take one  week in Kenya may take one month in Sudan.

Mark: Men and women bath in the same river from close proximity. 

Fred: I came across a disease in Munduri (in Equatorial State) whose cure, health staff in Sudan have not concocted – They call it the “nodding disease” children from ages 5 to 18 contract it.  It only strikes at mealtime – making its victims develop some kind of epileptic fits. Healthcare, farming and environment are crucial areas of concern.

A.E: What do the Sudanese think about NGOs? 

Fred:  There are some who make promises but never fulfill them. Others impose projects which are irrelevant to the people, for they don’t involve the local population. The Sudanese are generally tired of handouts.  They need life and wealth creation skills. 

A.E: What can Kenya learn form Sudan? 

Onesmus: The Sudanese work with locally available material. Other countries should also learn to exploit their resources.  They have to look inward before looking outward.  In Sudan big girls and boys go to primary school.  They learn under grass thatched roofs, open spaces and under trees, without        desks.  They don’t sit and wait.  African countries should seize any opportunity for development at their disposal.  This may involve embracing new technologies.  We are too old to make use of new technologies. 

Mark: The Sudanese are really proud of their identity and country.  Those who fled to neighboring countries during the war have now come back to teach in their schools.  Africans in Diaspora should help reclaim Africa from negative publicity and economic stagnation.  They should use their experience, like Asians, to better Africa.

Fred: We should not take peace for granted. Having walked in Sudan past notices indicating where landmines are, and seeing dilapidated infrastructure – we should not take peace for granted.