A widowed mother of eight paid tribute to an agricultural programme run by the Jesuits in South Sudan, which has enabled her to feed her children and pay for their education.
Deborah Awat Makur, from Rumbek, benefitted from a project supported by Jesuit Missions, which teaches mainly female farmers how to improve their crop yields.
Last year, she earned two million South Sudanese pounds (around £300) from her irrigation garden. This has helped pay for good quality food and clothing for her family, as well as schooling for six of her children.
Deborah’s husband – like many others in South Sudan – died in the conflicts which have dogged the country since its independence in 2011, and she said her life easily could have spiralled out of control without the intervention of the Jesuits.
“I am truly grateful for the assistance that Abuna (Father) has provided us,” she said.
“They have opened our eyes as women. Despite the war, they have remained with us, visiting our communities and ensuring that our children receive milk, free medical treatment and food assistance.
“I cannot imagine where I would be now as a widow with eight children without their support.”
Through the Multi-Educational and Agricultural Jesuit Institute of South Sudan (MAJIS), Deborah has learned how to grow vegetables all year round, even during the dry season.
She has also received trees and seeds to plant in her garden and was shown how to create a compost heap to support the growth of her produce.
“When I joined MAJIS with the other women, we were just villagers waiting for the rainy season to eat greens – we did not know about irrigation,” Deborah explained.
“They taught us how to grow vegetables during the dry seasons, which has greatly improved our diet.”
Her latest hope is for water taps to be installed near her garden. Currently she and her fellow farmers transport water from a borehole using watering cans which, she said, can be “tiring” and “cause chest pains”.
She is confident that the local Jesuits will continue to do what they can to support her as much as possible so she can carry on farming to provide for her family.
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