Living in Sudan is a very hard context to digest, especially for the ones that were raised somewhere else, as I grew up I never thought of Sudan being the start of my career nor even a place for me to live for longer than those 4/5 years of university, I was always persuaded by the idea of immigration to Europe for a Master degree or a career. But here I am dictating my journey in Sudan, the journey that will make me a stronger person.
Each day has its own lesson over here, you guys have no idea how grateful we should be for the blessings we have. The number of deprived communities in Sudan brings big sorrow to my heart and greave for the lost chances of having future doctors, engineers, scientist, politicians and many others. These children has no access to basic education, adequate health facilities and clean water. From the age of five when we all went to kindergarten they started grazing, growing up in a nomad tribe, moving from place to place but in reality you are still at the same place, no development, no change and no urbanisation anywhere to be added to your new homes as you move around.
A very well known tribe in the east of Sudan, Hadandwa, this one lives scattered and very far from the few services that could be provided in their region. In a monitoring visit to a village mainly occupied by this tribe, GOZ RAJAB, about 150 km from kassala through the dessert. On the way all what i was thinking about is that no way on god’s earth someone could live this far, and suprisely upon our arrival they all came near the car and started welcoming us, and thanking us as they were already informed that unicef has funded the government to dig a water source for this village. Most of them named Mohmed Tahir, we finally found the one we wanted to address took us around and showed us the progress that wasn't a real progress of the implemented programs in the area, then I asked where are the houses? He answered I will take you there. We all got into the car and the drive was so long about 7 to 9 km from the water source, health facility and the schools. their house made out of local materials, very weak and vulnerable just like the life they are living, I asked why you live so far from the services?? He said I never felt that these services were made for me, I have always lived here why didn't they built these facilities close to me ??
I took time to think before I answer, then I said, there are others on the other side living 10 km away as well this was the centre close to all of you, why cant you all come and live together next to the services. He answered with the smile this is were I was born and with or without services we will survive, its ALLAH’s will.
My heart cracked at that moment, I have never seen such faith in someone who has very few but still admires every aspect of live.
Sadly we grew up in greed, always wanting more looking out to the things we don't have, dreaming about being in a better place without being thankful of where we are now. Maybe its time to start counting our blessings and charge our faith.
And my heart is still healing with the smile I saw in Mohamed Tahir’s little girl :)
