“I decided to let our mother go, and I can be here with the children because I have been caring for them since they were young.”
Nyegiel, a young woman living in Rubkona, South Sudan, explains in a matter-of-fact way how her current situation of being the sole provider for her younger brothers came about.
Later, she explains that after her father died, she was merely ten years old when her mother first left, leaving Nyegiel, as the eldest daughter to become the sole caregiver for her younger siblings. Her mother thought that she could build a better life if she moved to Sudan. “I sacrificed because of my younger siblings,” says Nyegiel. “If I didn’t take care of them, they would just be abandoned and everyone will be alone. I sacrificed myself because we have no father and our mother left us.”
Ten years later, Nyegiel continues to raise five younger siblings. She’s made a lot of sacrifices for her siblings, “During the (food) distribution… when the food is available, I can go to school. But when the food is finished, I stop, I will search for the food for my younger siblings.”
Through the years, when there is no food in the house, the big sister stays home from school to try and find food, and work in any way she can to provide for her siblings. As she spoke, this was her current situation as Nyegiel and her young family hadn’t had a regular supply of food in the past two weeks.
This has meant that her education has been erratic. Yet, she holds onto the hope that education is very important for everyone. As she speaks, she wants to advocate for more education in her community – especially for people like her – people with disabilities.
When Nyegiel walks, the hitch in her step is visible, and when she starts to speak, it’s clear that there is some difficulty in expressing herself. However, those quickly fade away because of the joy she radiates.
She is not naïve to the situation, Nyegiel expresses the need for her family and the community clearly, “The general situation in South Sudan is not good. People are suffering [with] insecurity and no money for medication.”
She is grateful for the support she receives through SSUDRA, local partner of MCC, “I am really happy with the support you have given and pray it should continue… if there was not support from you, then we could not be at the level of survival we are at now.”
It’s not easy raising children, especially while living in poverty. When asked how she manages her younger siblings, she shares with a twinkle in her eye and a laugh that she manages. “If they are angry with me, and if I have one coin in my pocket, I can give it to them. You go and buy your food [or] exercise book, so that he will be happy with me and he will not fight me.”
And while she cares for her brothers without expectation, she does hold on to hope that maybe one day the favour will be returned and that the poverty they live with not will not be in their future. “As you see me, I am also disabled. I was thinking maybe in future they can also support me. Maybe when my younger brothers are older they will be able to make a living.”
