The Kiryandongo Assignment
Mary is a South Sudanese refugee working as a YGlobal Counselor in Kiryandongo Refugee Settlement, Uganda (2021).
I expect to be here in Uganda for many years (now), because my camp (Kiryandongo) is not as stubborn now, and I think I need my children, grand children to be in school- even if I am retired- so that they can finish their school and they can be able to go help our country, South Sudan, because without knowledge the country cannot grow. This is my plan.
"Before the war I was working in the government as a senior clerk in the office under public service. I had my good family, I had a good house. I used to eat balanced diet in my home with my children. By the time the war came, there's no way to go to the work, there's no way to get food. Sometimes we would go two, four days not having anything, even water. My children were very tired.
The life's bad, so many traumas. Sometimes I could not sleep. I have lost my sister there, my brothers there, and even friends. While at work, you hear that somebody has died: your friend has died. That trauma is with you. Those experiences are very painful for me. Before Y Global, the trauma was too much.
My life has changed since I did the training (psychosocial support) with Y Global. Through the counselling I become strong. I have peace in my heart, I am able to counsel another person who has trauma and has pain in their heart, problems in the family. I'm able to counsel them. I have confidence.
I expect to be here in Uganda for many years (now), because my camp (Kiryandongo) is not as stubborn now, and I think I need my children, grand children to be in school- even if I am retired- so that they can finish their school and they can be able to go help our country, South Sudan, because without knowledge the country cannot grow. This is my plan."