Solidarity Worker: Emily Young

July1, 2007

Hi Everybody,

So...the latest from Nimule. Last night we celebrated my 20th birthday, which turned out to be quite the ordeal. Most people here don't know the exact year much less the month and day they were born on, so birthdays are rarely celebrated, especially when you have survival on your list of top priorities. Never the less the DOT (Roman Catholic Diocese of Torit) family and community decided to celebrate the night away. I had been in my Tukul (mud hut) reading when I decided to come out to get some juice, only to find armed guards everywhere in our compound...curious.....one of the kitchen ladies pulled me aside and pointed out that Joseph Lagu a.k.a. the first president of southern sudan, during the 1 st civil war was visiting in the compound. I got introduced to him and his half a million armed guards later. What a way to celebrate your birthday huh? So I have officially met a president, one thing I can check off my to-do list of life.

The night was something I will never forget. The kitchen ladies all prepared my favorite american and african dishes, for a celebration feast. French fries, spaghetti, caribou, and of course...fufu and beans. There was also unlimited amounts of Coca-Cola...I was happily in a food choma. The Fathers at DOT invited some of my friends from the community and the other volunteer compounds, and some of my school kids over for an all night long celebration. They seated me at a head table...and the celebration began.

The headmaster of the local schools spoke as did Father Mawa, the head of the women's council of Nimule, and the director of Catholic Relief Services. They all spoke about how important this celebration is because of the mixing of culture and nations and tribes for the first time at DOT since the war. They explained that we were going to celebrate in traditional style my birth into the Madi community, with my new name Aliyah Emily Anne Young. The staff then appeared in traditional dress and facepaint to sing the official welcoming songs. It was indescribable...these people know how to celebrate.

After our birth feast, I had to make a speech about my birth into the Madi community, and my family history in the USA . This was then followed with more speeches by guests and more dancing and singing.

Then they brought out the birthday cake...topped with pineapple. I the newborn had to cut the cake with everyone's hand touching me at the same time to celebrate the unity of our community. Then I got to traditionally dance the night away with the women. The guests constantly reminded me that they want this to happen again, they want more guests, more birthdays, and more people to be initiated into their community....they really treated me like one of the family, and an honored guest....I don't think I will ever have a birthday that tops it even if I live to be a hundred...in which case they said I had to fly back here to celebrate my 100th haha.

Sitting in the moonlight, listening to the sounds of tribal drums, and watching the dances in front of me...I felt African.....I felt like this was my home, and like I had always been here.....what a blessing for them to share their rich culture with almost a complete stranger. Here were a bunch of white kids in the middle of Sudan celebrating something with tribes of people that used to kill one another....pretty incredible. So next year maybe one of you reading this can come along, and become a new born in the Madi community.

For the past week I have been working at a women's workshop organized for all female school teachers in the county. I served as a facilitator to help organize GIRL TALK groups in the schools. So many of the young girls drop out of school when they begin their menstruation cycle, because they are not educated on their bodies and how to take care of them...so I helped orientate the teachers on how to form a sort of female support group for their students. This way the girls can gain basic information about themselves physically and mentally and have a strong group of women who can advise and counsel them when they are struggling. I think it went pretty well...and the JRS program said they would monitor it after I leave.

I still can't help but be amazed every day by the strength of the women here. A baby on their back, bags in their hands, 20 liters of water on their head...and they will stop and talk with you for 30 minutes about sudan politics and the war. I'm getting lots of practice with carrying babies on my back....not such a bad idea...really much more simple than toting a stroller around.

We are only about half way through our time here and I already feel that leaving is going to feel impossible...while I do miss everyone from home, this place even with its tragedy is so rich in culture I know the US is going to feel pretty...pretty american. I am excited however to share my stories, my pictures and videos, and to most importantly get other people excited about coming and sharing this experience next summer. I love you all and thanks for your thoughts and prayers.

Emily Young
Harrisonburg, Virginia
New Community Project Solidarity Worker
Summer 2007 Nimule, southern Sudan