On the Road to Freedom

The people of Southern Sudan are rebuilding their lives after a bloody civil war spanning fifty years. But the drive for basic infrastructure such as roads, communications, jobs, healthcare and education often bypass the most vulnerable members of society – those living with disabilities.

Hidden out of sight, many thousands of individuals living with disabilities caused by war and disease constitute the poorest of the poor. Most are dependent, many are abused, neglected and excluded from education, training and jobs.

Bringing hope to the marginalised, the SCIAF-funded Sudan Evangelical Mission (SEM) based in Mundri country, Southern Sudan, runs a community-based disability rehabilitation programme. It aims to improve the quality of life of disabled people and bring greater awareness in society of the role people with disabilities can play in the development of Sudan.

Out of the ruins of war their work is bringing hope to many. Here is the story of one man, 19 year old Aguri Elisapen, who is starting out on the road to freedom.

“Up to the age of five I was the same as any other small boy, boisterous, playful and carefree. But then I got ill, very ill. And because it was the time of war we lived far from the road and the possibility of getting any medical help. My parents were traditional healers and gave me herbs that helped a little. After the fever left and the illness seemed to pass I regained my strength but my legs where paralysed. By now my parents knew that I had polio.

"Many people became cruel and constantly insulted me, calling me useless, cripple, and worse. Life is hard on everyone and everyone is expected to work the land to help grow our food. I was seen as hopeless and just an added burden on already difficult lives.

"My only hope was to get an education. We lived just less than five miles from the school but I had no way of getting there. My brothers and father were too busy but my best friend Gadi said he would carry me. For four years he carried me the five miles, strapped to his back, to school, and then home again, but by primary five I was too big for Gadi to carry me and I had to drop out of school. I felt so bad. I was constantly being told that I was useless and burdensome. My family were ashamed of me and I was left to pull myself along the ground.

"After two years of missing school my family finally helped me and made a small wheelbarrow that my friend, Gadi, could push me to school in. This constantly broke and also, my friend Gadi, got the chance to go to a secondary boarding school in a town fifty miles away and without him there was no one to push me to school. Once again I had to leave school.

"In 2000 my father died and my mother also died in 2004 so I live with my two brothers. I have another brother who went to fight with the Sudan People’s Liberation Army but we have never heard from him and don’t know if he is alive or dead. Living with my brothers isn’t easy as they drink too much and have, at times, been very cruel to me. They resent that they have to help me and that I can’t do as much as others.

"SEM’s help and encouragement has changed many things for me. They gave me a tricycle that gives me independent mobility and allowed me to re-start school as well as meet others and make friends. SEM trained a volunteer called Vaida, who visits me every week to encourage and support me. If I have problems I can talk to her about them. She visits the school to see how I am getting on; she shows an interest in me.

"Home life is still difficult and this year I finish primary seven and would love to go to secondary, but I don’t know where the fees will come from, but having mobility and the support of Vaida has at least allowed me to finish primary school and given me hope for the future.”

SCIAF funding for SEM:

2006 - £22,791
2007 - £17,715
2008 - £18,307
Total = £58,813

SEM initiatives:

· Train local carpenters/artisans to make devices to improve mobility and quality of life
· Train workers and volunteers to work with people with disabilities
· Provide home visits and support
· Hold an orthopaedic workshop, physiotherapy and counselling services
· Conduct community training seminars and meetings on disability issues for families, villages, and civil authorities
· Assist people with disabilities in accessing education and income generation opportunities

Aguri’s Story is one of many articles and news items on the work of SCIAF both overseas and in Scotland which feature in SCIAF’s latest Review magazine. Download a copy or sign up to receive future copies in the post for FREE.