Eva Lopa is a Radio/Media Personality and Content. She curates South Sudan with Eva, a travel and lifestyle series exploring South Sudan's beauty, culture, and people.
Eva Lopa is a Radio/Media Personality and Content Creator. She curates South Sudan with Eva, a travel and lifestyle series exploring South Sudan's beauty, culture, and people. Following her passion for gender equality with a primary focus on women's and girls' rights, Eva joined Ma Mara Sakit Village in 2020 as the Gender Talk 211 project lead. She creates content and hosts the Gender Talk 211 Radio talk show on Advance Digital Radio.
Agau is pursuing a Justice and Peace Studies degree at the Catholic University in Juba, South Sudan.
Agau is pursuing a Justice and Peace Studies degree at the Catholic University in Juba, South Sudan. With a passion for social justice and the history of African descent, she uses storytelling circles to gain new insights and connect with people. Agau joined Ma’ Mara Sakit Village in 2021 as the Movement Building Coordinator to lead the Mojtama Al’Mara program.
Ajak (she/her/hers) is a post-colonial Afro-Feminist who focuses on pre-colonial sexualities and genders, the queer liberation movement, and the role of women within peace and conflict.
Ajak (she/her/hers) is a post-colonial Afro-Feminist who focuses on pre-colonial sexualities and genders, the queer liberation movement, and the role of women within peace and conflict. With a degree in International Relations, Ajak leads the research team under the project, Gender Talk 211.
Paula holds a bachelor’s degree in Communications focusing on Broadcast Journalism and Public Relations and a master’s degree in International Relations and Global Communications.
Paula holds a bachelor’s degree in Communications focusing on Broadcast Journalism and Public Relations and a master’s degree in International Relations and Global Communications. With expertise in Communications, Peacebuilding, Mediation, Gender, Conflict Management, and Resolution, she is a co-Founder, and Country Manager of I Am Peace Africa, South Sudan. A master trainer and fellow with the United States Institute of Peace Generation Change Fellows Program, a Young Women Mediation Ambassador with the International Centre for Peace, Human Rights and Development in Africa, and a member of Community Voices for Peace and Pluralism-Africa. She works to champion an inclusive and peaceful society through education and awareness to contribute to creating safe and decent spaces for the future generation. Paula is interested in researching and documenting South Sudanese women’s narratives and birth that are relevant to humanity. Her top hobbies include photography, videography, hiking, and traveling.
Jacky is Ma’ Mara Sakit Village’s Team Lead with a Bachelor's degree in Justice and Peace Studies.
Jacky is Ma’ Mara Sakit Village’s Team Lead with a Bachelor's degree in Justice and Peace Studies. She oversees the design, implementation, and management of all the programs. She aspires to contribute to building a just and peaceful South Sudan, especially for women and girls. Jacky co-hosts the Gender Talk 211 radio show, which provides a platform for and amplifies the voices of South Sudanese women and girls.
Charity is a Content Creator and an Executive Producer for a podcast.
Charity is a Content Creator and an Executive Producer for a podcast. She works with individuals and institutions to administer digital engagement and develop content across social media platforms. She supports Gender Talk 211 program with social media management, cyber safety awareness and outreach, and cyber incident response.
Nyarow Malik Agar is a Project Development Officer focusing on enterprise and economic development projects.
Nyarow Malik Agar is a Project Development Officer focusing on enterprise and economic development projects. She is also a Media & Communications specialist, consultant, facilitator, graphic designer, digital illustration artist, and Pan-African Feminist Activist. She is passionate about advocacy for sexual health, gender equity, and breaking down harmful cultural norms and perceptions.
Akeer is a Finance and Admin Assistant with a Bachelor’s in Business Administration.
Akeer is a Finance and Admin Assistant with a Bachelor’s in Business Administration. Skilled in financial operations and administrative support, Akeer serves as a Mc, youth facilitator, researcher, and passionate youth activist, focusing on youth empowerment and social change. With a strong commitment to community-driven initiatives, Akeer blends academic expertise with a dedication to creating opportunities for young girls and the community.
Teresa Otto is a full-time bead-maker with nine years of experience. She has been working with Ma’ Mara Sakit Village since 2020 under the Suk-Sukna project as one of the lead bead-makers.
Teresa Otto is a full-time bead-maker with nine years of experience. She has been working with Ma’ Mara Sakit Village since 2020 under the Suk-Sukna project as one of the lead bead-makers. She is a widow and a mother of three from Pochalla, Jonglei State. Otto is the breadwinner caring for her entire family through her income from bead-making.
Angelina has over 28 years of experience in beadwork. She started beadmaking when she was a young girl in 1994.
Angelina has over 28 years of experience in beadwork. She started beadmaking when she was a young girl in 1994. She is one of the four women and girls Ma’ Mara Sakit Village trained in 2020 to learn to make the Jieng beaded corset under the Suk-Sukna project and has been working with Ma’ Mara Sakit Village since then. Today she is one of the lead trainers of the Jieng and Otuho beaded corsets. She manages and coordinates all the bead-making work. She is from Pigi in Jonglei State. As the breadwinner, Angelina sells dried okra, fish, and peanut butter next to her house to supplement her income from beadwork.
Jane is a student and young girl from Lopa/Lafon County, Eastern Equatoria State, who is interested in learning different South Sudanese beads.
Jane is a student and young girl from Lopa/Lafon County, Eastern Equatoria State, who is interested in learning different South Sudanese beads. Through the Suk-Sukna project, she has been trained to make the Otuho and Jieng beaded corsets. Jane is currently one of the youngest Suk-Sukna bead-makers.
Yar Kuch is a 3rd-year student at Doctor John Garang University in Bor, Jonglei State studying for a bachelor’s degree in Banking and Finance.
Yar Kuch is a 3rd-year student at Doctor John Garang University in Bor, Jonglei State studying for a bachelor’s degree in Banking and Finance. She is one of the younger women trained in making the Otuho and Jieng beaded corsets and is currently one of the younger bead-makers on the team. Yar is from Yirol, Lakes States, and she picked this bead-making interest from her mother, a great bead-maker of the Jieng beaded corset.
Mary is a high school graduate awaiting to enroll in the university. She dreams of becoming a doctor and working in South Sudan because she likes helping people.
Mary is a high school graduate awaiting to enroll in the university. She dreams of becoming a doctor and working in South Sudan because she likes helping people. She is from Pibor, Jonglei State. She learned beadwork from her mother when she was nine years old. Mary is one of the young girls Ma’Mara Sakit Village trained in 2020 and has worked with Ma’ Mara Sakit Village since then. She is one of the youngest bead-makers on the team.
Nyariak is a mother of four from Malakal, Upper Nile State. She has been making beads since she was a young girl, over 20 years ago.
Nyariak is a mother of four from Malakal, Upper Nile State. She has been making beads since she was a young girl, over 20 years ago. She made beads for her family and friends whenever there was a function or traditional dance, but it was not until recently that she started doing it as a business. As the breadwinner of her family, making beads is her primary source of income. She is one of the four women and girls Ma’ Mara Sakit Village first trained in 2020 to learn to make the Jieng beaded corset under the Suk-Sukna project. Today she is one of the lead trainers of the Jieng and Otuho beaded corsets.
Nyakong is a mother of five from Nasir, Upper Nile State. She has over nine years of experience making beads.
Nyakong is a mother of five from Nasir, Upper Nile State. She has over nine years of experience making beads. As her family’s breadwinner, she sells food items in front of her home to supplement the income she gets from bead-making to support her children’s needs.
Yayo is a young girl from Pibor, Jonglei State. She learned to make the Otuho and Jieng corset during the Suk-Sukna training in 2022.
Yayo is a young girl from Pibor, Jonglei State. She learned to make the Otuho and Jieng corset during the Suk-Sukna training in 2022. She’s passionate about bead-making and wants to learn other South Sudanese beads. Yayo is one of the youngest bead-makers on the team.
Cecilia is a farmer, a bead-maker with 12 years of experience, and one of the part-time Otuho beaded corset support trainers for the Suk-Sukna project.
Cecilia is a farmer, a bead-maker with 12 years of experience, and one of the part-time Otuho beaded corset support trainers for the Suk-Sukna project. She grows groundnuts, maize, Amaranthus, sorghum, and other vegetables for family consumption to supplement her income from bead-making. She is a widow and a mother of seven from Lopa/Lafon County, Eastern Equatoria. Cecilia started making beads in 2010 when her husband passed to support and carter for her children. She works with ROOTs of South Sudan and continues to extend her expertise to other women and young girls interested in learning how to make the Otuho beaded corset and other South Sudanese beads she knows as her contribution to preserving the culture.
Aluel has over 20 years of bead-making experience. She supports Suk-Sukna project part-time as a trainer of the Jieng beaded corset.
Aluel has over 20 years of bead-making experience. She supports Suk-Sukna project part-time as a trainer of the Jieng beaded corset. Aluel is a mother of eight and the breadwinner of her family from Yirol, Lakes States. She has worked with ROOT of South Sudan since 2010. She continues to extend her expertise to other women and young girls interested in learning how to make the Jieng corset and other South Sudanese beads she knows as her contribution to preserving the culture.
Nyakong has over 20 years of experience making different kinds of beads and continues learning.
Nyakong has over 20 years of experience making different kinds of beads and continues learning. In addition to beadmaking, she is good at knitting, handmade embroidery, and tailoring.
Nyipul has been making different kinds of beads since 1994, when she acquired the skills.
Nyipul has been making different kinds of beads since 1994, when she acquired the skills. Given the unsustainable nature of beadmaking as a business, she supplements her beadmaking income by embroidering bedsheets and cushions, among other things. She also sells a few items in front of her house to support her family’s daily needs.
Okech has over 30 years of experience making different kinds of beads.
Okech has over 30 years of experience making different kinds of beads. Beadmaking is one of the primary sources of income that she supports her family with. To supplement her small income from beadmaking, she does handmade embroidering of bedsheets for sale.
Okech has over 30 years of experience making different kinds of beads.
Okech has over 30 years of experience making different kinds of beads. Beadmaking is one of the primary sources of income that she supports her family with. To supplement her small income from beadmaking, she does handmade embroidering of bedsheets for sale.
Ma’Mara Sakit Village is a feminist community that amplifies voices and creates platforms and opportunities to facilitate processes that contribute to the attainment of individual and collective agency using research, art, culture, and multimedia.