Challenged to be kind
Kindness is not deserved. It is not limited by any social, physical, mental, political, or economic differences. It is a choice.
I intended to go on foot from Jebel to Gudele. It was the day I went very broke. I went to Jebel to attend a certain program. The program was delayed and made me very late. After the program, I made my way home. I could not share with anyone that my fare wasn’t enough. I don’t like asking for money from others. Sometimes, I am forced to ask.
That day, I was very smart. I learned many people were shocked seeing a very smart man puffing and sweating. But it didn’t shock a certain man. The man stopped his beautiful car. With a gentle voice, he said, “Sir, please, I would like to give you a lift.” I held my breath and didn’t completely know what to tell him. We took a moment of silence. He said again, “Sir, please, you don’t need to worry. I work for Eye Radio. I just feel that I should help you. It is late, and I guess that your distance is far.”
Looking at the man speaking to me with a very confident voice, I accepted his offer. He started driving our car. After some minutes, I started to ask him why he should just do such a thing, which was at its last stage of disappearance in South Sudan. The man explained to me that it is his life to help. He said that he once had no car. He used to be lifted. Why not help when he was helped before?
He started empowering me that I will one time have a car. He added that it was what he did to me that will one time help me do it to others. From the man, I have learned there are still people in South Sudan who can be kind to others. The man didn’t know at first where I could come from. It was at night. The man didn’t know my tribe, religion, education, among others, which are the source of divisions in our nation today. He decided to just be kind to a human being.
The driver has challenged me to support others one time when I have a car. I must not conclude that those who are afoot are useless. I must respect everyone, whether driving or on foot. I must understand that things come and go. If I own a car today, it can happen that I cannot own it tomorrow. I will need the help of others. I must not see that I am important because I drive and others don’t. Those who don’t drive today will drive tomorrow.
On the fifth of June, 2025, something unbelievable happened in my life. I had a lot of things to run that day. I went for work. After work I rushed to the university to do a test. I finished the test. I was called to attend a certain program, and my presence was needed the most. The time was very late, but I had to go for the program.
I came to the bus park. As my custom has been, I checked the money I had in my pocket before entering the bus. I often do it to avoid being embarrassed on the bus. I checked my pocket and learned that I was left with only 1000 SSP. The fare is 2000 SSP. I didn’t know that I spent all the money I had. I left home with 30000 SSP. I spent the 29000 SSP. It was only that 1000 SSP was left. I tried to get two bus drivers to take me with my 1000 SSP, but they refused. I had no choice but to stand perplexed.
I hadn’t planned to be desperate, but I had unfortunately gotten myself into it. I could not ask anyone to give me 1000 SSP. I would just be cursed, I thought. I was very smart. People would expect me to give them money instead. Sometimes, people do not know that there is smartness that does not match the pocket. In South Sudan, people don’t dress smart to show that they have money. They dress smart for nothing.
A young boy saw that I was very confused. I could not go anywhere. I could not talk to anyone. The boy keenly observed my actions. He knew that two bus drivers had rejected my request. He humbly came to me and said, “Sir, please, have this 1000 SSP. Add it to your 1000 SSP so that you can go.” “Why should you do that, young boy?” I asked. He said, “Please, accept to take it.”
I accepted the money from the young boy. The reason I hesitated was because I was ashamed of myself. I dressed rich. The boy dressed poorly. But he gave me the money. I am a working-class person. The young boy has no job other than hustling, but he gave me the money I didn’t have. I am far older than the boy, but he accepted to help me. The older should help the younger, supposedly.
I am challenged to always support others who don’t have at the moment. Everyone needs the help of others. I pretended that I didn’t need help, but I was finally helped by the person I didn’t expect to help me. There are many needy children in Juba. I must try my best to help them whenever I can. There are many women and children who go without the mere daily bread. Whenever I have something, I must try to share it with them. It is hard to help, but I must strive to do it.
A man works for Windle Trust International in South Sudan. I just met him in a workshop. He showed interest in me. After the workshop he called me and appreciated me. He told me that I have the heart to make a change in South Sudan one day. He started connecting me to very important people. He contributed towards my going to Addis Ababa for an international English language conference.
One unexpected time, the man called just to tell me that I should send my CV. He recommended me to Windle Trust International in South Sudan, saying that I am a very good English teacher. He convinced the country director that I am a brilliant English teacher. With his recommendation, the organization accepted that I should always go and interact with them. The organization has put me in the plan that I should be their master trainer.
The man has challenged me to share opportunities with others. I will be happy to make someone get a job. I will create jobs for others. I must recommend those who can make a lasting positive impact on society. He has challenged me to see everybody as equal. The man is a Dinka, and I am a Nuer. With the confusion in the country, it is very hard for a Dinka man or woman to positively recommend a Nuer man or woman to work in an organization. It is also very hard for a Nuer man or woman to recommend a Dinka to work in an organization. But the man who is Dinka recommended me, a Nuer.
The three people who decided to help me didn’t first ask my identity. Helping someone is not limited by identity. I had no social relation with any of the three people who decided to be kind to me. You are not limited to helping only your relatives. The three people didn’t know whether I was a Christian or not. We should not limit our support to others based on religion. The fact remains: we are all human beings.
See how kind the Citizen No. 1 newspaper is to me! It publishes my articles every week. Even if I write an article that is not worth reading, the editors take their time to add value to the article. The editors, too, take their humble time to mentor me and guide me to write something valuable next. They are not benefiting anything from me other than just being kind to me. If there were to be others, they would not feel happy expanding my social ground. It is through them that I am in touch with so many people today. My articles are read nationwide. It does not pain them to see me gaining popularity. They own my work as if they are my parents. They own my work as if I pay them money. But instead they pay me. None of them comes from my tribe or religion. The only thing they know is that I am South Sudanese. Just that they are willing to be kind to me.
What about the kindness my readers show me! We live in a country filled with hatred and jealousy. For most readers, the first thing they want to know is where the writer comes from. If one learns that the writer is from one’s home, then he/she reads what the writer has written. But I love my readers! They don’t care where I come from! They only care to empower me. I have received calls from different people. Thank you, my readers, for empowering me to write more for the nation. I write just to appreciate your kindness to me. Continue to read my writings as I continue to write for you. I will one time write the most valuable piece for you. Be kind to the nation.