how often do we create a new country it’s a pretty rare thing to be in a
it’s a pretty rare thing to be in a
it’s a pretty rare thing to be in a country when it’s born
country when it’s born
country when it’s born the newest country in our world today is
the newest country in our world today is
the newest country in our world today is South Sudan South Sudan is a country
South Sudan South Sudan is a country
South Sudan South Sudan is a country that I have lived and worked in since
that I have lived and worked in since
that I have lived and worked in since 2008 and I’ve had the privilege of being
2008 and I’ve had the privilege of being
2008 and I’ve had the privilege of being there when the country was born and it
there when the country was born and it
there when the country was born and it was a happy day but I expect for most of
was a happy day but I expect for most of
was a happy day but I expect for most of you you don’t know much about South
you you don’t know much about South
you you don’t know much about South Sudan so briefly South Sudan gained its
Sudan so briefly South Sudan gained its
Sudan so briefly South Sudan gained its independence from the Sudan in 2011 and
independence from the Sudan in 2011 and
independence from the Sudan in 2011 and sadly it enjoyed a mere 18 months of a
sadly it enjoyed a mere 18 months of a
sadly it enjoyed a mere 18 months of a very fragile peace before it plummeted
very fragile peace before it plummeted
very fragile peace before it plummeted into its own Civil War and today despite
into its own Civil War and today despite
into its own Civil War and today despite signed peace agreements that war
signed peace agreements that war
signed peace agreements that war continues and there is famine in some
continues and there is famine in some
continues and there is famine in some parts of the country now and overall it
parts of the country now and overall it
parts of the country now and overall it we have one of the worst humanitarian
we have one of the worst humanitarian
we have one of the worst humanitarian crises in our world today in South Sudan
crises in our world today in South Sudan
crises in our world today in South Sudan and it’s all man-made but as I said you
and it’s all man-made but as I said you
and it’s all man-made but as I said you probably haven’t given faster down that
probably haven’t given faster down that
probably haven’t given faster down that much thought or don’t feel that strong a
much thought or don’t feel that strong a
much thought or don’t feel that strong a connection and so I ask you to ask
connection and so I ask you to ask
connection and so I ask you to ask yourself that very important question so
yourself that very important question so
yourself that very important question so what as I talk about the country and how
what as I talk about the country and how
what as I talk about the country and how it finds itself in this sensitive space
it finds itself in this sensitive space
it finds itself in this sensitive space between war and peace what collection do
between war and peace what collection do
between war and peace what collection do you have and I want to invite you also
you have and I want to invite you also
you have and I want to invite you also to consider or possibly reconsider your
to consider or possibly reconsider your
to consider or possibly reconsider your individual role in building a more
individual role in building a more
individual role in building a more peaceful world but first I want to share
peaceful world but first I want to share
peaceful world but first I want to share with you that I’m going to make an
with you that I’m going to make an
with you that I’m going to make an assumption about you all I’m going to
assumption about you all I’m going to
assumption about you all I’m going to assume that you are all conscious caring
assume that you are all conscious caring
assume that you are all conscious caring human beings who use your compassion and
human beings who use your compassion and
human beings who use your compassion and your wisdom as you go about your day is
your wisdom as you go about your day is
your wisdom as you go about your day is that okay great
that okay great
that okay great thank you
thank you
thank you so let me take you back the 2011 to
so let me take you back the 2011 to
so let me take you back the 2011 to Christmas 2011 do you remember where you
Christmas 2011 do you remember where you
Christmas 2011 do you remember where you were remember who you were with what you
were remember who you were with what you
were remember who you were with what you were doing well I hope like me you were
were doing well I hope like me you were
were doing well I hope like me you were relaxing in the company of people that
relaxing in the company of people that
relaxing in the company of people that you loved this is Elizabeth and I want
you loved this is Elizabeth and I want
you loved this is Elizabeth and I want to share the very brief story that
to share the very brief story that
to share the very brief story that Elizabeth has of Christmas Day 2011 for
Elizabeth has of Christmas Day 2011 for
Elizabeth has of Christmas Day 2011 for her she’s from South Sudan and already
her she’s from South Sudan and already
her she’s from South Sudan and already just a few months after the country is
just a few months after the country is
just a few months after the country is born you begin to see how this fragile
born you begin to see how this fragile
born you begin to see how this fragile peace is already cracking my village was
peace is already cracking my village was
peace is already cracking my village was attacked on Christmas Day 2011 people
attacked on Christmas Day 2011 people
attacked on Christmas Day 2011 people kept saying they are coming they are
kept saying they are coming they are
kept saying they are coming they are coming but we remained in touch brain
coming but we remained in touch brain
coming but we remained in touch brain then the attackers came and there was
then the attackers came and there was
then the attackers came and there was shooting everywhere I ran with my
shooting everywhere I ran with my
shooting everywhere I ran with my children both of whom were born in
children both of whom were born in
children both of whom were born in Khartoum and had never experienced
Khartoum and had never experienced
Khartoum and had never experienced anything like this who were in the bush
anything like this who were in the bush
anything like this who were in the bush for 7 days without food and water one
for 7 days without food and water one
for 7 days without food and water one day we came across a puddle with dirty
day we came across a puddle with dirty
day we came across a puddle with dirty water and when I gave it to one of my
water and when I gave it to one of my
water and when I gave it to one of my sons
sons
sons he asked me mama what is this is it
he asked me mama what is this is it
he asked me mama what is this is it custard I said no my son it is water
custard I said no my son it is water
custard I said no my son it is water from golden drink it that is how we
from golden drink it that is how we
from golden drink it that is how we survived a few months after Elizabeth
survived a few months after Elizabeth
survived a few months after Elizabeth and her children suffered this horror
and her children suffered this horror
and her children suffered this horror Elizabeth joined an initiative called
Elizabeth joined an initiative called
Elizabeth joined an initiative called the roots project and the roots project
the roots project and the roots project
the roots project and the roots project was set up to foster social inclusion
was set up to foster social inclusion
was set up to foster social inclusion and specifically to provide economic
and specifically to provide economic
and specifically to provide economic empowerment for South Sudanese women so
empowerment for South Sudanese women so
empowerment for South Sudanese women so basically the women could come to the
basically the women could come to the
basically the women could come to the roots project and earn enough money to
roots project and earn enough money to
roots project and earn enough money to live through the creation of their art
live through the creation of their art
live through the creation of their art their traditional arts and crafts so
their traditional arts and crafts so
their traditional arts and crafts so nearly everywhere in South Sudan there’s
nearly everywhere in South Sudan there’s
nearly everywhere in South Sudan there’s a tradition of beading using beads to
a tradition of beading using beads to
a tradition of beading using beads to create jewelry and other arts and crafts
create jewelry and other arts and crafts
create jewelry and other arts and crafts and so the women come together and they
and so the women come together and they
and so the women come together and they earn them
earn them
earn them they creates in this art and here are
they creates in this art and here are
they creates in this art and here are some examples and when Elizabeth first
some examples and when Elizabeth first
some examples and when Elizabeth first joined the roots project she actually
joined the roots project she actually
joined the roots project she actually had a hard time she experienced some
had a hard time she experienced some
had a hard time she experienced some prejudice from some of the other women
prejudice from some of the other women
prejudice from some of the other women elizabeth is from the Murli tribe and
elizabeth is from the Murli tribe and
elizabeth is from the Murli tribe and some people believe that the Murli
some people believe that the Murli
some people believe that the Murli people have special powers that they use
people have special powers that they use
people have special powers that they use against other people in the conflict and
against other people in the conflict and
against other people in the conflict and there are similar prejudices about other
there are similar prejudices about other
there are similar prejudices about other prejudices and beliefs about other
prejudices and beliefs about other
prejudices and beliefs about other tribes so there was a time at the roots
tribes so there was a time at the roots
tribes so there was a time at the roots project where some women from equatoria
project where some women from equatoria
project where some women from equatoria which was in the south of the country
which was in the south of the country
which was in the south of the country encountered some Dinka women and the
encountered some Dinka women and the
encountered some Dinka women and the Dinka women said to their equatorial
Dinka women said to their equatorial
Dinka women said to their equatorial women we didn’t want you in this project
women we didn’t want you in this project
women we didn’t want you in this project at the beginning because we were sure
at the beginning because we were sure
at the beginning because we were sure that you were gonna poison us because
that you were gonna poison us because
that you were gonna poison us because you’re women from Equatoria and the
you’re women from Equatoria and the
you’re women from Equatoria and the equatorial women responded and they said
equatorial women responded and they said
equatorial women responded and they said well we thought you were gonna beat us
well we thought you were gonna beat us
well we thought you were gonna beat us up because you’re Dinka women now
up because you’re Dinka women now
up because you’re Dinka women now fortunately they’d worked together
fortunately they’d worked together
fortunately they’d worked together enough to realize that they could laugh
enough to realize that they could laugh
enough to realize that they could laugh and they could overcome and let go of
and they could overcome and let go of
and they could overcome and let go of these prejudices these prejudices fuel
these prejudices these prejudices fuel
these prejudices these prejudices fuel the fighting and so very gradually these
the fighting and so very gradually these
the fighting and so very gradually these women have learned to trust each other
women have learned to trust each other
women have learned to trust each other and they’ve become friends and they’ve
and they’ve become friends and they’ve
and they’ve become friends and they’ve reached a point where they can read
reached a point where they can read
reached a point where they can read I defy themselves as South Sudanese
I defy themselves as South Sudanese
I defy themselves as South Sudanese women or as mothers or as beaders before
women or as mothers or as beaders before
women or as mothers or as beaders before they see themselves as coming from a
they see themselves as coming from a
they see themselves as coming from a particular tribe and now these women are
particular tribe and now these women are
particular tribe and now these women are actually advocates for peace because
actually advocates for peace because
actually advocates for peace because they leave work at the roots project and
they leave work at the roots project and
they leave work at the roots project and they go home to their communities and
they go home to their communities and
they go home to their communities and they influence their communities away
they influence their communities away
they influence their communities away from fighting so it’s a difficult
from fighting so it’s a difficult
from fighting so it’s a difficult journey that they’ve made but gradually
journey that they’ve made but gradually
journey that they’ve made but gradually as they’ve become friends they’re
as they’ve become friends they’re
as they’ve become friends they’re starting slowly slowly to build their
starting slowly slowly to build their
starting slowly slowly to build their own new brave hopefully peaceful world
own new brave hopefully peaceful world
own new brave hopefully peaceful world I’ve been really encouraged and I found
I’ve been really encouraged and I found
I’ve been really encouraged and I found hope in projects like the roots project
hope in projects like the roots project
hope in projects like the roots project because as I said I’ve worked in South
because as I said I’ve worked in South
because as I said I’ve worked in South Sudan for nine years and I’m really sad
Sudan for nine years and I’m really sad
Sudan for nine years and I’m really sad to say today that all I’ve seen is an
to say today that all I’ve seen is an
to say today that all I’ve seen is an increase in bloodshed and fighting
increase in bloodshed and fighting
increase in bloodshed and fighting and these projects like the loots
and these projects like the loots
and these projects like the loots project really gives space to these
project really gives space to these
project really gives space to these women my last job when I was in South
women my last job when I was in South
women my last job when I was in South Sudan I was part of the organization
Sudan I was part of the organization
Sudan I was part of the organization that’s responsible for monitoring and
that’s responsible for monitoring and
that’s responsible for monitoring and investigating and reporting on the peace
investigating and reporting on the peace
investigating and reporting on the peace process I went with my team to this
process I went with my team to this
process I went with my team to this village shortly after it had been burnt
village shortly after it had been burnt
village shortly after it had been burnt down in the fighting I saw the school
down in the fighting I saw the school
down in the fighting I saw the school ransacked
ransacked
ransacked I saw the hospital the health center
I saw the hospital the health center
I saw the hospital the health center destroyed and I saw what hadn’t been
destroyed and I saw what hadn’t been
destroyed and I saw what hadn’t been looted of the food burnt this is corn we
looted of the food burnt this is corn we
looted of the food burnt this is corn we were able to visit this village thanks
were able to visit this village thanks
were able to visit this village thanks to a group of young men young men who
to a group of young men young men who
to a group of young men young men who like many of you love their families
like many of you love their families
like many of you love their families love their homes and I sat with these
love their homes and I sat with these
love their homes and I sat with these young men in the bush as they recounted
young men in the bush as they recounted
young men in the bush as they recounted some of the horrors that their
some of the horrors that their
some of the horrors that their communities had experienced and I worry
communities had experienced and I worry
communities had experienced and I worry about these young men I think about them
about these young men I think about them
about these young men I think about them because I think they possibly have one
because I think they possibly have one
because I think they possibly have one of the hardest journeys to find any kind
of the hardest journeys to find any kind
of the hardest journeys to find any kind of peaceful future war is stark I don’t
of peaceful future war is stark I don’t
of peaceful future war is stark I don’t know how this country is going to find a
know how this country is going to find a
know how this country is going to find a way to build itself why is it always be
way to build itself why is it always be
way to build itself why is it always be regular people that suffer most in a war
regular people that suffer most in a war
regular people that suffer most in a war but so what right
but so what right
but so what right it’s sad but what can you do well
it’s sad but what can you do well
it’s sad but what can you do well actually I’d like to thank you because
actually I’d like to thank you because
actually I’d like to thank you because you already did something you contribute
you already did something you contribute
you already did something you contribute already financially the Swiss government
already financially the Swiss government
already financially the Swiss government the UK government the US government and
the UK government the US government and
the UK government the US government and many others are involved in the effort
many others are involved in the effort
many others are involved in the effort for peace in South Sudan so a little bit
for peace in South Sudan so a little bit
for peace in South Sudan so a little bit of your tax contributions makes its way
of your tax contributions makes its way
of your tax contributions makes its way to South Sudan
to South Sudan
to South Sudan similarly the United Nations the UN
similarly the United Nations the UN
similarly the United Nations the UN peacekeeping mission in South Sudan is
peacekeeping mission in South Sudan is
peacekeeping mission in South Sudan is the second largest UN mission in the
the second largest UN mission in the
the second largest UN mission in the world and so why are we so ready to
world and so why are we so ready to
world and so why are we so ready to continue to invest our resources
continue to invest our resources
continue to invest our resources in a country that seems to be locked
in a country that seems to be locked
in a country that seems to be locked into an ever worsening conflict well as
into an ever worsening conflict well as
into an ever worsening conflict well as many reasons no the country has oil but
many reasons no the country has oil but
many reasons no the country has oil but possibly more important is its
possibly more important is its
possibly more important is its geopolitical relevance South Sudan is in
geopolitical relevance South Sudan is in
geopolitical relevance South Sudan is in East Africa it borders a region of the
East Africa it borders a region of the
East Africa it borders a region of the world that is fertile ground for violent
world that is fertile ground for violent
world that is fertile ground for violent extremism it is in all of our interests
extremism it is in all of our interests
extremism it is in all of our interests to make sure that that part of the world
to make sure that that part of the world
to make sure that that part of the world is stable but it is an extremely
is stable but it is an extremely
is stable but it is an extremely challenging endeavor to support a
challenging endeavor to support a
challenging endeavor to support a country like South Sudan to navigate its
country like South Sudan to navigate its
country like South Sudan to navigate its way in this space between war and peace
way in this space between war and peace
way in this space between war and peace it’s hard peace is difficult it’s messy
it’s hard peace is difficult it’s messy
it’s hard peace is difficult it’s messy it’s it’s unpredictable it’s volatile it
it’s it’s unpredictable it’s volatile it
it’s it’s unpredictable it’s volatile it takes a long time it’s hard to find it’s
takes a long time it’s hard to find it’s
takes a long time it’s hard to find it’s even harder to hold on to and why
even harder to hold on to and why
even harder to hold on to and why because it’s about human beings it’s
because it’s about human beings it’s
because it’s about human beings it’s about human beings who have been so
about human beings who have been so
about human beings who have been so deeply hurt both physically and
deeply hurt both physically and
deeply hurt both physically and psychologically that they have an
psychologically that they have an
psychologically that they have an unimaginably difficult task to overcome
unimaginably difficult task to overcome
unimaginably difficult task to overcome the trauma to reconcile and to find some
the trauma to reconcile and to find some
the trauma to reconcile and to find some means of living together with their
means of living together with their
means of living together with their enemy
enemy
enemy but it’s projects like the roots project
but it’s projects like the roots project
but it’s projects like the roots project and other homegrown initiatives that
and other homegrown initiatives that
and other homegrown initiatives that really make the difference from my
really make the difference from my
really make the difference from my perspective because they they create a
perspective because they they create a
perspective because they they create a safe space for human beings to come
safe space for human beings to come
safe space for human beings to come together and that’s what it’s about it’s
together and that’s what it’s about it’s
together and that’s what it’s about it’s about humans relating to humans and
about humans relating to humans and
about humans relating to humans and finding a way to overcome the trauma but
finding a way to overcome the trauma but
finding a way to overcome the trauma but that is difficult and it’s messy and it
that is difficult and it’s messy and it
that is difficult and it’s messy and it doesn’t always work the first time it’s
doesn’t always work the first time it’s
doesn’t always work the first time it’s high-risk and that’s something that the
high-risk and that’s something that the
high-risk and that’s something that the donors find increasingly hard to fund
donors find increasingly hard to fund
donors find increasingly hard to fund and so what do we do we end up as donors
and so what do we do we end up as donors
and so what do we do we end up as donors funding the safer options but the safe
funding the safer options but the safe
funding the safer options but the safe things aren’t usually the things that
things aren’t usually the things that
things aren’t usually the things that build a lasting peace it’s those small
build a lasting peace it’s those small
build a lasting peace it’s those small micro projects that as I said bring one
micro projects that as I said bring one
micro projects that as I said bring one human being together with another human
human being together with another human
human being together with another human being
being
being enable them to build trust and finally
enable them to build trust and finally
enable them to build trust and finally after time
after time
after time probably after failing a few times
probably after failing a few times
probably after failing a few times they’re able to change their perspective
they’re able to change their perspective
they’re able to change their perspective and finally change their behavior and
and finally change their behavior and
and finally change their behavior and when that works it’s extremely powerful
when that works it’s extremely powerful
when that works it’s extremely powerful I’ve seen it it’s so encouraging to see
I’ve seen it it’s so encouraging to see
I’ve seen it it’s so encouraging to see how human beings can change their
how human beings can change their
how human beings can change their perspective and eventually their
perspective and eventually their
perspective and eventually their behavior and the more they succeed the
behavior and the more they succeed the
behavior and the more they succeed the safer we all are thousands of miles away
safer we all are thousands of miles away
safer we all are thousands of miles away wandering on earth our connection is
wandering on earth our connection is
wandering on earth our connection is with them every time I hear about
with them every time I hear about
with them every time I hear about another terrorist attack or about some
another terrorist attack or about some
another terrorist attack or about some more people who have lost their lives of
more people who have lost their lives of
more people who have lost their lives of those as they’ve tried to flee across
those as they’ve tried to flee across
those as they’ve tried to flee across the Mediterranean Sea it becomes more
the Mediterranean Sea it becomes more
the Mediterranean Sea it becomes more evident to me that we can no longer
evident to me that we can no longer
evident to me that we can no longer ignore what’s happening over there it’s
ignore what’s happening over there it’s
ignore what’s happening over there it’s in our interest because we have evolved
in our interest because we have evolved
in our interest because we have evolved to realize what has always been the
to realize what has always been the
to realize what has always been the truth we are all interconnected that a
truth we are all interconnected that a
truth we are all interconnected that a war in the middle of the African
war in the middle of the African
war in the middle of the African continent affects the peace in the
continent affects the peace in the
continent affects the peace in the middle of the European continent so
middle of the European continent so
middle of the European continent so please keep developing your humanity and
please keep developing your humanity and
please keep developing your humanity and how engage more with people about these
how engage more with people about these
how engage more with people about these very complex issues talk to more people
very complex issues talk to more people
very complex issues talk to more people people who don’t have your same opinion
people who don’t have your same opinion
people who don’t have your same opinion perhaps ask yourself some of the
perhaps ask yourself some of the
perhaps ask yourself some of the difficult questions what went wrong with
difficult questions what went wrong with
difficult questions what went wrong with South Sudan why didn’t this new country
South Sudan why didn’t this new country
South Sudan why didn’t this new country of ours blossom we need to recognize
of ours blossom we need to recognize
of ours blossom we need to recognize that an individual whether it’s a
that an individual whether it’s a
that an individual whether it’s a civilian or a fighter who is caught up
civilian or a fighter who is caught up
civilian or a fighter who is caught up in a conflict somewhere a long way away
in a conflict somewhere a long way away
in a conflict somewhere a long way away requires our attention and I know
requires our attention and I know
requires our attention and I know because we are all conscious caring
because we are all conscious caring
because we are all conscious caring human beings I know that you know how
human beings I know that you know how
human beings I know that you know how good it feels when we exercise our
good it feels when we exercise our
good it feels when we exercise our compassion and our courage and our
compassion and our courage and our
compassion and our courage and our wisdom for someone who we may never know
wisdom for someone who we may never know
wisdom for someone who we may never know in the end it’s pretty simple when we
in the end it’s pretty simple when we
in the end it’s pretty simple when we strengthen peace elsewhere we strengthen
strengthen peace elsewhere we strengthen
strengthen peace elsewhere we strengthen peace right here
peace right here
peace right here thank you very much
thank you very much
thank you very much [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
”
Be First to Comment