Vulnerability and Poor Lifestyle of South Sudanese Abroad
By Mamer Deng Jur
Poor Lifestyle of South Sudanese abroad: Is best described by ‘vulnerability’. Sometimes it is best not to expose facts, but true facts are vital. I know ‘silence is golden’.
In this ‘paper I will discuss few areas which may not, be of interest for some of the people in Australia to be disclose.
Coming to Australia
First of all, I congratulate Australia government and its people for giving us an opportunity of lifetime to come to Australia. Such opportunity has been utilise by some of the people. Ironically, it has been misused by some of us. With thoughts in mind that Australia is utopian.
Many of us may have not come to Australia. If it was not of the Liberal Party, and the Labor Party. But I always thanks John Howard who was the Prime Minister at the time, when many refugees from South Sudan; were accepted and grant permanent residents visas under the Humanitarian program to come to Australia. If it was of the Labor Party; some of us may have not come to Australia. Labor Party do not care that much about people coming to Australia, they cares more about Australian citizens. They like to distribute wealth back to the community. On the other hand, Liberal Party like saving money. For example, cuts universities benefits, families, and the hospitals benefits. So that they could bring back the economic into surplus. Secondly, they want everyone in the community to joins the workforce rather than to live on doles payment and welfare payments. But the problem is that; if you want people to work you have to create jobs; so that they could work.
Refugees and the welfare
Few if not many, are working in jobs were they are full – time paid workers. They are working very hard to support their families in Australia and in South Sudan. They are sweating for every dollar they make. Because they do not have a choice, but to work to bring changes. Technically, they do have a choice, but that choice may makes them poor later in the future.
It is appalling to mention that, 90% of South Sudanese are currently; living on government benefits or receives the government payments. Literally, it means that they are not working; but they received taxpayers’ money.
Some of them are receiving the benefits, not that they are lazy; but they are housewives looking after the children at home. While their husbands are working. Other people are; the disables, and the students. Number of youth are students, so they cannot do both work and study.
But some brilliant students do the impossible, they study and they work; casual or part – time to support themselves during school/university years. The government benefits are there to draw a line between the poor and the rich.
Basically, I do not blame many refugees for receiving welfare payments. Many of them were born in the camps and grew up in the camps. And their parents had never work very hard to support them. In the camps, they usually receive their fortnightly ratios, and they were happy; living simple life. When they come to Australia, it was the same process, receiving fortnightly paid from the Centrelink[1]. Only that, there is an opportunity in Australia to join the workforce and quit the welfare and become self-reliance and independent.
But in the camps, for example; in Kakuma there were no such big opportunities to work, but literally; there were few windows in the camp to be self-reliance. Some, if not many were running micro – shops in their groups and in the big market place (business hub). For example, Hong Kong in Zone 3; and you can name the rest you know, if you were in the camp.
There are many things, which are facing us since we arrived in Australia. Firstly, South Sudanese are really very good in ignoring very important issues; and they simply prioritise non – important issues. To elaborate this point, I will give an example of the current political turmoil in South Sudan. Many people, if not thousands argue that; they want Dr. Riek to be the leader of Republic of South Sudan.
The rebels’ leader who had failed to overthrow his comrade Salva Kiir on 15th December 2014, in an African and the Middle East culture of taking power by force. And thousands argues that, they want current semi – educated president. Gen. Salva Kiir to be overthrow democratically by the people of South Sudan.
In that regards, I do have my opinion; but I believe it is not important at moment, because it will not change anything currently in South Sudan. Many people in South Sudan at this moment are suffering from many things, because of our leaders’ greediness for the power. My argument is this, current situation in South Sudan needs us to donate money to helps our needy people, who had had been displaced from their homes. But it does not need us to donate arrogant words and showing – off of intellectual thoughts. Otherwise, it may Prove us to be nothing but useless.
South Sudanese in abroad should worry first about a lion and a tiger[2] in their backyards. Before they are worried about South Sudan front yards and backyards issues. Because we cannot change anything in South Sudan, if we cannot first manage to change ourselves in Western countries.
Apparently, I am not 100% arguing that, my country issues are not important; but first we need to establish ourselves, meanings that we need to help ourselves first. The more we help ourselves the more we can help others. ‘Charity begins at home’. Moreover, it is very important that; we people in the West should not exaggerate situation in South Sudan.
Especially when we attack ourselves for no good course, saying taunting remarks about clans, sub – clans and tribes. These type of attitudes and behaviour, will not bring back our innocent relatives who were savagely attacked and murder for nothing; but anarchy and agreediness.
Important issues which are compelling to us:
- Health – many of us are obese.
- Our own church building.
- Community meeting place – hall.
- Government Policies.
- Laws – we need to learn very well, to stop ignoring the laws. The best meal serve for ignoring, the law is, first fines for minor offences, and second prison for serious offences.
- Cultures, and our languages.
All the above issues, need community to have a project that they can independently funded; by donation of money toward the project. We do not need always to rely on government funds. It makes us looks stupid and greedy. If we like receiving rather than giving, I know we had been relying on donation from other people for many years; but we have opportunities here in Australia to change that culture of receiving free things. Because we are rich.
Consequently, we are 110% vulnerable; many of us in the future will retire with a zero dollar in their super account, if they have one. In Australia, people who work received 12% from their employer; and that percentage goes into their nominated super trust account. Hence, it is not a loss to an employer, because during the financial year from 30th of June to 1st of July; the employer will lodge its tax return and claims the superannuation they had paid to their employees as a deductible expense.
On the other hand, employees are entitled to put some money into their super account; if they wish to do so. It is not a compulsory to do so, only that; if you do the government will help you more. For example, if I transfer a dollar into my super account weekly; then the government will do the same every week to my account. I reckon, it is just tremendous support.
In addition, I think if you do not works at all; you may end up with a zero dollar in your super account. Well I cannot be too certainty about the future of some people. As say goes ‘every cloud has a silver lining’ meanings that every sad or difficult situation has a positive side. I may not blame people who come to Australia when they were in their mid-40s.
But I could blame young people today and tomorrow, if they fail to work hard to earn themselves retirement benefits of a lifetime – superannuation. Especially, young people who do not study at all; should starts looking for full – time position, if they are not currently in the workforce. Instead of drinking, getting high and going out a lot on the weekend. Sometimes, it is disgraceful to do things that may not take you from A to B.
Some of the girls if not many prioritise beauty, but beauty cannot change poor lifestyle. Yes you can upgrade your beauty by bleaching 99% of your body to be whoever you want to be, but the facts remain that, you are not changing the surrounding around you.
There are few things which beauty of the body does not provides to a person, because they are beautiful outside; these are humility and a good working brain that think positively but not negatively. Sorry to the body cream users and their advocates for the sting, but facts are facts.
Moreover, I know it is a popular culture now days; majority of South Sudanese women whether in South Sudan or in Western countries are bleaching off theirs dark skins, so that they could be more beautiful like other African women. But I am not really complaining about their bleaching decision. Because it is a fundamental principle of autonomy.
A person has a right to do what they like to themselves or what they think is right and wrong. But in organise societies there is always a limit on what the people thinks they could do to themselves. Sometimes, too much freedoms; is not really a freedom for many people who are unstable.
In my opinion, I think it will be morally wrong to make a mistake to apply those deadly body creams on our children, who are innocent and vulnerable, in a way that; they have no idea of the beauty their parents are trying to create. If we do it, it will make us looks stupid like those Hollywood stars that do many horrific things for the money!
On the issue of cream and the children, men need to be really vigilant; to make sure that their children are using right substance. It is okay for adults who know that, one day they will harvest the consequences of those deadly body creams.
Obesity and the community
Obesity is a state of being overweight. The problem with obese people is an excess of body fat that is too much is being stored in the body.
In my opinion, I believe that many South Sudanese are obese. I can see people walking around with a big belly; it is a sign of obesity. And the most vulnerable people are; women and children. Majority of South Sudanese women do not have that opportunity to do exercise, because they are always busy taking care of children. While their husbands are playing dominoes, chess, billiards and other games you could mention. Instead, they stay home with their children; and late their wives go to the gym to work out.
Or they could purchase gym equipment, and place them in the garage; if there is no empty room to make as a gyms’ room. Too, children are obese because they are watching television a lot, and they are eating a lot; but they are not exercising. It is parents’ role to take their children to the park every weekend, so that they could have that chance of running around independently in the park; until they are tire.
Causes of obesity
- Diet- food we eat and drink regularly. Availability of junk foods.
- Lazy to do exercise – obese or overweight people become less active to exercise.
- Technology- advances in technology has changed the way people move around.
- Lack of participation in sport – many children decline to takes part in sport activities in schools.
What could be done?
- Eat balanced diet foods.
- Exercise; walking, jogging, cycling, swimming, basketball.
- Advice children to take it easy on junk foods, and why it is important to avoid junk foods.
Conclusion
It is very important, if we could change how we live in Western countries; that how we are going to prosperous in our new country and in our mother land South Sudan.
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[1] Centrelink is a government agency that works for the Federal government.
[2] A lion and a tiger. Means issues.
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