Poverty Alfred Taban
Age: 27. Country: Sudan.
What is your best childhood’s memory?
My best memory was when I started school in our village in Mugwo, Southern Sudan. I went to a school where my father was the teacher which made me to get the advantage to learn more and realized the importance of school.
What is your worst childhood’s memory?
My worst memory was when my father married my mother. My mother's parents asked for dowry from my father which almost made them to separate and at the same time, they found out that I was sick.
Please tell us a bit about your parents/family?
My parents got married in 1981. They belong to the same clan and speak the same language and they stayed together until 1996 when my biological mother died in Uganda at a refugee camp. We are six children from my biological mother and 7 others from our step mother. Some of my sisters and brothers read, some of them don't.
Could you tell us a bit about your friends and hobbies?
I have friends that contribute ideas about my future development like reading newspapers, playing football, playing volleyball and other sport activities.
What does the term hunger make you think of?
Hunger is a disorganizing factor that makes it impossible to concentrate on something important. It frustrates, reduces your power and keeps you from doing things that could help you to develop.
What does the word poverty make you think of?
Poverty makes me think of poor health, poor road conditions, violence in families and less education for girls and boys to develop this country.
How do you feel about rich people?
I feel that the rich should backup the poor in order for them to have well developed country and improved services.
What is your dream for the future?
I dream about achieving a good education standard to inform the public of Sudan about everything happening and for me to be a journalist.
What have you heard about Denmark before coming here?
I have heard that Denmark is a well-developed and organized country in terms of social services and democracy implementation compared to other countries.
What do you hope to gain from your stay in Denmark?
Learn more about the different ways Danish people does things and socialize with the other participants from other countries.
What do you think about the future of your country?
I think that most of the intimidation, poor services and lack of democracy will improve to enable the respect of human rights in Sudan.
Are you angry at your government?
Yes, because most of the youth of Sudan are not employed which increases the risk of youth involving in drugs and committing crimes and all this is due to tribalism and favoritism happening in Sudan in terms of employment offers to the youth.
Finish this sentence: Africa's youth ...
... needs to be supported in their activities and they need to be capacity build to ensure that they understand their roles in the development of Africa.
Why do you fight?
I fight in order to tell the youth about their rights as they are the future of any country in Africa and in Sudan in the next years' development plans.
Where would you like to be in 10 years?
I would like to be in America to get the same experience I will get in my trip to Denmark.
Where would you like Southern Sudan to be in 10 years?
Southern Sudan should be at least compared to the other developed countries in terms of services, democracy implementation, but this will only occur when the developed countries support it financially and practically.
What do you see as the biggest achievement in your life?
Working as a journalist is the biggest achievement because through that I am able to tell the people about their rights, how to hold their leaders responsible and know their roles in a country as citizens of Southern Sudan.
When were you last angry?
In 2009, when my relatives left me alone in solving my marriage issues in Juba when my wife was sent to me.
When did you last laugh?
When one of my friends fell into faces which was in an open hole in my village.
What would you do if you won a million dollars?
I would start a youth association to aware them on their rights, effects of violence and involve them in sports activities to make them busy and fresh in minds and to focus on development issues.
What do you feel is the most important message to give to the world's leaders?
They should discuss on the implementation of democracy in the countries that still do not understand it and they should empower youth to have a brighter future.
Where would you like to have been born?
In America or Denmark.
What would you bring to a deserted island?
I would bring water, some food, a sleeping bag and a small mattress.
Are you a role model?
Yes, I am. I have been telling people abut the preventative measures and the care for HIV/AIDS affected people and inform the public on various information through newspapers, radio and meetings.
