Channy*, is my nickname for him. He is such a brilliant, warm, witty and inquisitive South Sudanese Refugee, determined and passionate about saving his country from all the injustice that has been happening there. He fled his home village (Bentiu) in December 2013 during the last civil war in Africa’s newest baby. Bentiu Protection of Civilian Camp was his home for almost a year as an internally displaced person (IDP), before his coming to Kenya through Uganda, in September 2014.
When he was in the IDP, he felt frustrated that he could not be able to get access to Education. This is what made him look for the slightest opportunity to move out of South Sudan. In his stay in Kenya, he enrolled in one of the colleges to study Public Health. He narrated to me that the health sector in South Sudan is something that should be urgently addressed because there are very few doctors and medical facilities, which sadly contributed to his father’s death. This has driven his passion to be a doctor. To save lives and restore hope among the ill.
A friend of his then introduced him to Margaret Nagle the script writer of the movie “A Good Lie”. Margaret had been keenly following the South Sudan story and all its plight. Channy fed into the movie like a real life character and his passion for the medical field, ignited great inspiration in Margaret. This led to a fully funded scholarship by Margaret who has walked by Channy in his pursuit of education.
Sadly as fate would have it, he was denied a Visa twice, due to his refugee status. I advised him on how draft a letter to be able to appeal for the decision as much as I knew that there was a very minimal chance that the decision would be reconsidered. This is the same thing that most refugees undergo. Most of Western countries believe that if they have the status they will claim permanent residency due to the situation in their country of origin. Thankfully, his plea fell on a soft heart and he was finally able to get a visa, leading to his departure for medical school beyond African borders, where he can now study in peace and not worry about dying the next minute over war, disease and hunger.
Unlike what many would do, Channy is not interested in settling abroad. He is determined to finish his medicine degree and go back to South Sudan. He says the situation back looks overwhelming but his certain that he will make a great change once he is back there. He expressed himself by stating how South Sudan does not have solid operating institutions and they lack attention from the International Community. He says that he will work hard to ensure South Sudan finally gets the dignity it deserves after five decades of conflict and gain stability like most of Africa as well as other countries on the globe.
His story continues to echo loud and clear among other Refugees.
There are so many young and able children who have had their stars dimmed by greed and inhumanity. All they seek is for one person in the world to hold each one of their hands, to create a chain of hope and dignity, through which healing and growth can happen.
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