During my recent visit to Juba, I saw this girl selling fruits by the roadside. My instinct told me to request my uncle to stop by her fruit stand. At first, my uncle was skeptical that we shouldn’t buy fruits on the street because they might make me sick, but I insisted he stop so I could buy the fruit. I intended to support this girl, rather than wanting fruits.
Fortunately, my uncle listened, and he pulled beside the fruit stand. Instead of going straight to buying fruit, I started asking her questions, cracking jokes, and laughing, leading to her disclosing to us that she was 38 weeks pregnant and struggling because the man who got her pregnant requested that she abort the baby against her will. Her resilience in the face of such adversity was truly inspiring.
“What a coincidence! I said to myself,”. I was immediately emotionally connected with Ajok. I told her, “Girl, we have a similar story, I was pregnant at an early age as well,” and we started laughing as if it was funny.
My mother’s experience, combined with my own experiences as a young mother, has influenced my passion for supporting South Sudanese mothers during pregnancy. My gut told me this was not just a coincidence, and from there, Ajok became a client of CIMISS, a local organization dedicated to supporting mothers in need, despite our financial struggles.
With CIMISS’s support, Ajok, a first-time mother, successfully navigated through a few pregnancy and labor complications, culminating in a safe and healthy virginal birth. This is the power of collective support and it’s what we aim to continue with your help.
Even though she successfully delivered her baby, Ajok’s journey is far from over. The South Sudanese economic crisis has left her and her baby in a precarious situation. They are still in danger of postpartum complications due to food shortage, and she urgently needs support for the next two months.
Donating to CIMISS will help continue to support Ajok and her baby for two more months, as well as assist other women who have no one to turn to for help. Your contribution, no matter how small, can make a significant difference in the lives of these mothers and their babies. Please consider donating today.