Luel Deng Ding, Education and Adolescent Officer, UNICEF Bentiu Field Office in South Sudan
Tell us a bit about your background.
I am a South Sudanese national born in Nasir, Upper Nile State, South Sudan. I grew up in a refugee camp in Ethiopia. I have a Masters Degree of Education with specialization in Planning, Management and Administration from Mount Kenya University, Kenya. A Bachelor Degree in Physics and Mathematics (2008, Kampala International University, Uganda), and an Associate Degree in Physics and Mathematics (2003/Ethiopia).
What do you do?
My work involves all aspects of education development and emergency interventions leading state education cluster coordination with government and education partners, support monitoring supervision, funds utilizations and accountability, assessment and response to acute education emergencies in the affected schools, planning and distribution of materials for schools, providing technical support in capacity development of education officials and teachers, spearheading Back To Learning campaigns Initiatives.
Other tasks include being the Staff Association Chairperson representing Bentiu Field Office and ensuring the welfare and well-being of all staff at field level. As well as my personal and mandatory learning and development courses.
What’s your working day like?
My working day varies daily with critical deadlines under L3 Emergency in South Sudan. My day to day tasks include working closely with government, stakeholders and education partners in project development and implementations, preparedness and contingency planning, assessment and response to acute education emergencies, mobilization and advocacy to freeing schools occupied by armed elements, meetings with parents, pupils and teachers, capacity development to early childhood education and primary teachers, field monitoring and reporting.
How would you describe your job to a 5-year-old?
For a 5-year old, I would like to describe my job by either drawing or composing a song as part of stimulation, remembrance and of course making her/him happy and bringing out smiles.
What did you want to be when you were a child?
During my childhood in a ‘’primary cycle,’’ I had the dream of becoming a Geologist. I was very good in Mathematics. But this dream didn’t materialize due to the long Sudan Civil War where the majority of children by then didn’t make their dreams. Later with life changes, I had a new dream to be a teacher. I had admired teaching with the hope that I will contribute to the world of excellencies educate and contribute to the bright future of young children.
How/when did you join UNICEF?
Before joining UNICEF, I strongly wanted to work for children and women to contribute to their well-being and advocate for their rights to access basic education services and other basic needs. I joined UNICEF in 2010 as an Education Officer supporting Basic Education and Gender Equity Education Programme (Education Development and Education in Emergency Programming) for Greater Upper Nile Region in South Sudan.
What are the most satisfying parts of your job?
The most satisfying part of my job at UNICEF front line is responding to acute education emergencies saving lives of thousands of children. I like to improve quality work in child friendly spaces, helping young children (3-18 yrs) including children with disabilities, to attend school and learn in the classrooms, provision of safe and clean drinking water in the schools, health and nutrition services. Since 2015, I was inspired to see children with their parents coming to schools with UNICEF birth notification certificates during the schools registrations. This makes me feel proud as a worker of UNICEF - for children to have identity and also make it easier for teachers during school registrations to screen children by gender, age and appropriate class to attend.
What’s the most challenging aspect of your job?
The most challenging part of my job is covering the whole State alone by balancing regular and emergency education programming within limited time while the demands are huge. This means I need to really spend 90% of my time advocating for education access for children, showcase and have strategies for achieving both results.
What’s your best UNICEF experience/memory?
I have so many, but I would like to share one of my favourite UNICEF experiences in the current crisis in South Sudan. Working for vulnerable children and women to me is the right choice. It is the story of a boy with a disability by the name Meat Riak, 11 years old. Riak was out of school before the crisis in 2013 and had no clue about education. Riak thought being disable meant inability. The parents were not thinking of taking him to school since he had a disability. With the “Back to Learning” door to door campaign in 2017, Meat was found sitting in their local tukul. Both parents were not convinced for Meat to go to school until I visited their homes and discussed further. Following the meeting with the parents, Meat was allowed to go school together with his younger sister. All were enrolled in primary one in 2017. While at school, Meat has seen lif change and has proper stimulation. Meat Riak engaged more and more at school where he was given special care as a child with a disability. He benefited from the distribution of exercise books, UNICEF school bag, pens, crayons, reading of textbooks and recreational games. Meat Riak attended school daily and he appreciated the support given by UNICEF-USAID that motivated him to learn despite the fact that it takes approximately 20 minutes to reach the school in a distance of 800 metres.
Riak happily expressed that “he doesn’t feel discriminated” as he is well taken care of by the teachers as well as his classmates since they help him push his wheelchair especially during break time in the school, and he feels proud to be in such an environment. Within one year, Riak learned how to speak English, read and write. Meat has big dreams for his future and aspires to become a Doctor.
This is an important part of my recent memory bringing displaced vulnerable children back to learning and create conducive learning environments for their studies.
What’s one of the biggest risks you’ve ever taken in your life?
Well, I have taken several risks in my life and have to choose within my working periods. The biggest risk I took was on 17th January 2012 when over 6,000 armed Lou Nuer Youth attacked Murle Community in Pibor and Lingkuagole areas and displaced thousands of children, women and elderly people. Thousands of children were lost and separated from their parents. Within that context of emergency, I was nominated as a UNICEF Emergency Team Leader to respond to acute emergency while the area was not safe for me as I am from Nuer. I took that risk to save the lives of vulnerable young Murle children. The day I arrived, I didn’t sleep at all thinking a lot about the life of vulnerable children and my life as well. We had a meeting with local authority and immediately started responding to emergency needs. Partners were organized and started documenting missing, separated children, traced children for possible reunion with their parents. Two UNICEF tents were set up and used for integrated learning and PSS activities including life-saving messages. While in the Child Friendly Centre, a young person from Murle community approached me and asked - “Luel, did UNICEF know that you are from Nuer?” I replied, “Yes. UNICEF knows and I am here as UNICEF staff saving the lives of innocent young children including you, the youth.” I continue “I am here to save lives and deliver essential life-saving and recreational materials for all vulnerable children, adolescent and youth so that you are fully engaged in life-saving activities”. Later, he checked my hands and asked me - “can I be in charge of mobilization for boys under 13 years and form a sport club (Boys Stars)?” I said “why not!?” At the end, I have observed attitude and behavioral changes among the youth after engaging in sports and others recreational activities. I was so excited seeing saving the lives of over 1,000 children and adolescents who were seriously affected by the crisis. Within that, I used to tell my colleagues, taking risks to save lives is my priority number one.
What are your passions? How do you spend your free time?
My passion is to be a servant leader, commit to what I have to do and drive for the best results. Also make a different by being creative, help and support children to realize their dreams for tomorrow. I love working for humanitarian agencies helping voiceless and disadvantage adolescents and children.
For the last 3-4 years, I spent my time at work responding to education in emergencies, short family visits and studies (pursuing my Masters Degree in Education).
What advice would you give others who are seeking a similar job as yours?
Work and contribute to save lives. Focus and have a vision of working for people and understand your strengths where you can support. Be honest, tolerant and never give up when the situation is worsening.
Who do you look towards for inspiration?
Definitely, my colleagues inspired me because they are working hard supporting every step of children’s lives and are always motivating me to improve the lives of children in war country South Sudan.
My colleagues don’t know that …
My colleagues at work do not know that I am the best football player (midfielder). It was 2017 when I dressed up with an ARSENAL uniform heading to the football field. They asked, “Luel do you know how to play football?” They laughed, it was like a joke. They said, “let’s go and we see how you play”. This became funny when I showed off all my football styles. Yes, sport for physical fitness.