I had the great honour of being interviewed for Akol Dok’s podcast series, South Sudan and the World. This podcast series has interviewed notable South Sudanese who are active within the community either through entrepreneurship, politics, or sports.
In this episode of the podcast, I open up about my childhood in the Netherlands, and my struggles in school and receiving language therapy. I also offer a lot of appreciation to my parents, who despite being political refugees, gave my siblings and me the best childhood, while also instilling in us important life values and an unmatched love for our country, South Sudan.
I explain my academic and professional journey; how I became an activist, and how I am currently managing studying for a second Master’s degree, work, family life, and other activities. In the podcast, I also touch on feminism and the patriarchy, public health, and climate change.
Please support Akol’s podcast by following and subscribing through YouTube, Apple and Spotify. You can listen to this episode of the podcast below;
After the Chatham House Centenary Lifetime Award event in October 2021
My time as a Common Futures Conversations (CFC) member is sadly coming to an end in December 2023. From January 2024, I will no longer have access to the CFC platform. I joined the first cohort of CFC in February 2020.
So what is CFC? CFC is a project by the think tank, Chatham House. CFC is an online platform that brings together 18 to 30-year-old youth from Africa and Europe to discuss ideas and issues affecting the world today. In addition, CFC members have the unique opportunity to dialogue with policymakers and attend various events related to Chatham House. Every so often CFC opens applications so that more youth can join the platform. With this also comes the departure of youth who reach over the age of 30, and I am one of them.
I reflect on CFC with a lot of gratitude. I believe CFC has played a big role in my leadership journey; CFC has enabled me to network with high-profile individuals, policymakers and fellow youth, while also helping me develop knowledge and skills in different areas. Despite CFC being an online platform, I felt incredibly involved with CFC and Chatham House, particularly through their in-person events. Below are a few activities that I was involved with as a CFC member:
1. I wrote an article
In July 2020 I was able to contribute to Chatham House’s magazine called ‘The World Today’ about efforts my organisation was taking to fight the COVID-19 Pandemic in South Sudan. You can read more about it here.
2. I chaired/moderated an online webinar
In June 2021 I had the honour of chairing a great online discussion on modern slavery. The all-women panel was one of my most proudest online moments. You can watch the discussion here.
3. I attended a Chatham House event
In October 2021 I was invited to attend the Chatham House Centenary Lifetime Award, where I witnessed Sir David Attenborough receiving his Centenary Lifetime Award for his commitment to conservation and raising awareness of the growing climate crisis.
4. I attended Chatham House’s annual conference
In June 2022 I attended Chatham House’s annual conference. This conference was special because it marked Chatham House’s centenary (100 years). The hybrid conference had high-profile speakers including the former President of New Zealand (whom I also had the honour of having a side-chat with about healthcare), Helen Clark, former President of Tanzania (who attended via video link, and whom I also had the honour of asking a question around Universal Health), Dr Jakaya Kikwete, former Acting Minister of Health for Ukraine (whom I also had the honour of having my question answered), Dr Ulana Suprun, former Chancellor of the Exchequer, Hon. Kwasi Kwarteng MP, Shadow Secretary for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, Hon. David Lammy MP, President of Moldova, Maia Sandu, and so many more great industry leaders and policymakers.
CFC members’ group discussions
The event also presented CFC members the opportunity to interact and work on group tasks together. Most importantly, as CFC members we were recognised at the event and the then outgoing director of Chatham House, Sir Robin Niblett, also made time to speak with each of us.
A CFC Members’ group Photo with the former director of Chatham House, Sir Robin Niblett
The great two days ended with a (great!) dinner and a speech given by former Prime Minister, Sir John Major.
Sir John Major was one of many speakers closing the conference. The evening featured appreciation and a goodbye to Sir Robin Niblett.
And absolutely last, but not least, CFC members were given something to signify the 100 years of Chatham House. This memento is now on my bookshelf;
This book features 100 years of Chatham House and details about major events and notable speakers, including Nelson Mandela and Kenyan politician Raila Odinga (whose speech I attended at Chatham House in 2017)
A foreword by Queen Elizabeth II (check the mention of CFC!)
A warm thank you to CFC and Chatham House for providing me with incredible opportunities that I will remember and reflect on with gratitude. I am grateful for the skills I have learned, the networks I have created and the friends that I have made through CFC. Let this article be evidence that CFC is not just an online platform, and that Chatham House values the contributions of young people.
This post is for those who don’t know which direction to go in life, specifically regarding professional development (education and/or career). It’s for those who want hope, and reassurance that it’s ok not to have it all figured out (yet).
I am 31 years old and I still do not have it all figured out yet. Throughout my 20s I focused on many different activities, including journalism/writing, activism (focusing on youth representation in politics, peacebuilding, and women’s rights), and a career in STEM. I was often asked why I was doing ‘too much’ (I have a blog post in drafts about this to be published soon (hopefully!)), and in all honesty, I am a multi-faceted individual. I used to be a big bookworm during my teenage years and developed so many different interests. I am also quite passionate about humanity and the rights of young people, girls, and women. For this reason, I remain an activist at heart, championing the rights of many. However, my post isn’t about my multiple focuses, it’s really about how it is ok to keep figuring things out.
Throughout my figuring-out process (from my 20s until now) I did many different activities because of my interests, and because I still wanted to know what I really wanted to do. Somewhere, in my late 20s, I had this realisation that I wanted to return to school. I wanted to pursue postgraduate studies. I wanted to pursue a doctorate, but not in my field (health and life sciences, and more specifically, Microbiology). At the University of Birmingham, where I studied my Microbiology Master’s in 2016, I had many opportunities to study for a doctorate in my field. But I simply chose not to. Though I finished my Master’s with a Merit, and even had some research published, my heart wasn’t into the concept of studying a science degree that is heavily wet lab-based. This is not to trivialise the importance of lab work, lab work is important, but it just isn’t for me. Instead, I want to deal with people, I want to deal with policy, and I want to actually be part of change.
After researching various options, I was advised to do a Master’s in Public Health to give myself some background knowledge on Public Health. This would also allow me to study topics related to my interests and experience (South Sudan, women/girls, healthcare, etc.).
I was given offers to two great schools (LSHTM and The University of Manchester) and I deferred the year I received an offer. Ultimately I went with the latter school (for various reasons I will not go into right now). It is a choice I do not regret because I am enjoying the University, the course staff, and the course content. On top of that, I am currently achieving distinctions in my studies. I feel I have found the right fit for me; I am on the path where I want to be. However, I am mindful that things can change along the way, and that is absolutely ok.
So, for those not knowing which path to take in life, for those who think they must have it all by a certain age, realise and accept that life is a journey. You will experience different interests, triggers and opportunities. And that is absolutely ok.
This is a post, not about me specifically, but about an initiative I am a part of.
Sudan has unfortunately descended into war, leaving millions of people seeking refuge in neighbouring countries. Sudan hosts around 2 million South Sudanese, many of them in Khartoum, and having no means to be evacuated back to South Sudan.
Friend and colleague Akoch Manhiem, has created a Committee that is focused on the evacuation of South Sudanese from Sudan, to Renk, South Sudan. This project requires fundraising, in order for us to book trucks that will transport around 100 to 160 people back to South Sudan.
To donate to this initiative, we have a GoFundMe. For those in South Sudan, M-Gurush is available:
If you want to contact me directly, visit the contact page, and I will get back to you promptly.
For more on the initiative, the BBC covered it in a story here and Spanish media, El Pais, covered it here.
Hello all. I did an interview on Eyeradio’s Nuswan Salam with Priscah Akol on bride price; the effects of it on women and girls, as well as its effects on peace.
Sisi Shares 