National Staff of UNAMID

Contribution & Dreams

Pictorial by Olivier Chassot

Dedicated to all National Staff of UNAMID

National Staff of UNAMID

Contribution & Dreams

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Words from the photographer

The African Union - United Nations Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) is currently the largest peacekeeping mission in the world with more than 25,000 staff, civil-ian, military and police. Among them, almost 3,000 Sudanese, mostly Darfuris. Directly affected by the conflict, they contribute to the Mission’s mandate and try to bring peace and to provide assistance and protection to their compatriots. Unfortu-nately, they usually occupy lower positions and their contribution is frequently not as recognized as that of their international colleagues. This project is about showing their background, motivation, contribution and their dreams. It is a tribute to those men and women who try to build a brighter future for their family and their country.

Key to acronyms: UNAMID: African Union - United Nations Mission in Darfur UN: United Nations IDP: Internally Displaced Person NGO: Non-Governmental Organization

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Age : 25Marital status : SingleHometown : Khartoum / El FasherPosition with UNAMID : Public Information Assistant

When did you start working for UNAMID?In October 2009.

What was your job before working for UNAMID? Clinical Microbiologist.

Why did you decide to join UNAMID?It was a fortunate chance. I came to El Fasher to help care for an ailing relative and submitted a job application for UNA-MID. I had previously worked with a small national NGO and had wanted to continue working with aid agencies while in El Fasher.

How do you see your contribution to Darfur and peace through your work?Working in public information means that very often, we are the only reliable source of information on the conflict. Rumour and misinformation often only fuel tensions and rekindle violence. We provide crucial information that can hopefully mobilize all parties to the conflict, as well as the international community, to redouble their efforts to help bring an end to the fighting.

How do you see yourself and your career after UNAMID? I hope to pursue a degree in development and return to Sudan, to hopefully do some lasting good.

the interview

Mayada Umbadda

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Age : 25 Marital status : SingleHometown : El Fasher, North DarfurPosition with UNAMID : Mail Assistant

When did you start working for UNAMID? In December 2008.

What was your job before working for UNAMID? I was an Office Assistant for PAE.

Why did you decide to join UNAMID? Because I wanted to get a better life.

How do you see your contribution to Darfur and peace through your work? I see a clear improvement in the situation in Darfur, compared with before.

How do you see yourself and your career after UNAMID?I just want tomorrow to be better than today.

the interview

Ahmed Issa

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Age : 49 Marital status : Married Hometown : Wau, South Sudan Position with UNAMID : Public Information Assistant

When did you start working for UNAMID?In February 2008.

What was your job before working for UNAMID? Program Officer, Sudanese Red Crescent Society.

Why did you decide to join UNAMID?In order to get more skills and improve my income to meet with my needs as a person with an extended family. How do you see your contribution to Darfur and peace through your work? I think I have a good contribution to Darfur people especially during my former job for the Sudanese Red Crescent Society, in the field of water provision in the rural community. Wa-ter is one of the factors of the present conflict. And presently through passing information about the importance of peace.

How do you see yourself and your career after UNAMID? After UNAMID, I want to be independent and work as a farmer in the South.

the interview

Martin Marianga

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Age : 31Marital status : SingleHometown : Kutum, North DarfurPosition with UNAMID : Radio Production Assistant

When did you start working for UNAMID? In November 2008.

What was your job before working for UNAMID? I joined UNAMID directly after University.

Why did you decide to join UNAMID?I have seen AID workers in my country since primary school. Being one of them was my dream. The UN is the best organi-zation and UNAMID was my chance to join the UN family. I needed to do something to help people of Darfur, my family and myself .

How do you see your contribution to Darfur and peace through your work?Since I have worked for this mission and contributed to its mandate through radio production, I have been all over Darfur, recording and reporting events related to peace and humanitarian issues, conducting interviews, talking to the people… I feel that some differences and slight changes in the life of the IDPs happened. In 2007, IDP camps were not like today. Even the roads situation has changed because of UNA-MID.

How do you see yourself and your career after UNAMID?I really look forward to getting a UN international staff posi-tion. It is my plan and I am working to reach that goal. But the working experience gained with UNAMID can maybe also help me to work with news agencies, for the BBC, etc… But my main goal is to keep working for the UN and that is my plan. But if you look at the experience I have got from my work with UNAMID Radio, it can help me to work with any news agency in the future. But still, my main goal is to work for the UN.

the interview

Adam Yagoub Hamid Ahmed

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Age : 39Marital status : SeparatedHometown : El Fasher, North DarfurPosition with UNAMID : Language Assistant

When did you start working for UNAMID?In January 2008.

What was your job before working for UNAMID? I was language assistant for the African Union and before that, High School Secondary teacher.

Why did you decide to join UNAMID?To help Darfurian people and my family, and also to continue developping my career.

How do you see your contribution to Darfur and peace through your work?I see my contribution in informing my people and commu-nity about the role of UNAMID. And UNAMID about what is Darfur and especially about IDP’s needs and problems they are facing.

How do you see yourself and your career after UNAMID?After I started working with UNAMID, I realized the difference between our community and the other communities. Now, I hope to get the chance to go to the USA, work there and do my Ph.D.

the interview

Buthyana Arja

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Age : 35 Marital status : Married Hometown : El Fasher, North Darfur Position with UNAMID : Interpreter & Translator

When did you start working for UNAMID?In May 2008.

What was your job before working for UNAMID? Youth coordinator with Community Habitat Fund (CHF).

Why did you decide to join UNAMID? Previously we had no real presence in the international organi-zations, but now there is some progress, for that reason I think qualified people may get some opportunities of international posts through their experience in INGOs, UN agencies or even UNAMID. How do you see your contribution to Darfur and peace through your work? Since the interpreter serves as the “tongue” of the mission, my contribution will be established on conveying the right and actual message of the mission. How do you see yourself and your career after UNAMID? This will remain one of the major challenges for all national staff and it is the perpetual question that everyone has been ask-ing themselves. But I am sure that I will not find the core values, environment, salaries of UNAMID in any other institution in Darfur therefore, I will establish my own translation and inter-pretation office either here in Darfur or in the capital of Sudan, Khartoum.

the interview

Mohamed Zakaria Adam Hassan

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Age : 42Marital status : MarriedHometown : AbuzabadPosition with UNAMID : Budget Assistant

When did you start working for UNAMID? In October 2008.

What was your job before working for UNAMID? Finance officer.

Why did you decide to join UNAMID?To contribute to solving problems in my country and to im-prove the living situation for me and my family. I also wanted to get working experience and knowledge of others, culturally and socially.

How do you see your contribution to Darfur and peace through your work? Through my performance during my work in the Mission as an employee of the Budget Section and a member of civil society organizations.

How do you see yourself and your career after UNAMID? I hope to later work abroad as an UN international staff.

the interview

Mohamed Elfadl Mohamed

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Age : 26Marital status : SingleHometown : El Fasher, North Darfur.Position with UNAMID : Legal Administrative Assistant

When did you start working for UNAMID?In October 2010.

What was your job before working for UNAMID? I was a shop assistant

Why did you decide to join UNAMID?I wanted to get more experience and to support people who lost their homes.

How do you see your contribution to Darfur and peace through your work? I inform my friends and family about UNAMID and peace-keeping.

How do you see yourself and your career after UNAMID?I want to become a business woman and to take care of chil-dren who lost their family because of the conflict. I think work-ing with UNAMID helps me to reach this goal.

the interview

Aida Yagoub

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Age : 37Marital status : MarriedHometown : Shangil Tobaya, South DarfurPosition with UNAMID : Civpol Language Assistant

When did you start working for UNAMID? In 2008.

What was your job before working for UNAMID? I was working as a teacher in a High Secondary School.

Why did you decide to join UNAMID?To help UNAMID for a lasting peace in Darfur. UNAMID an-nounced a position for English teachers and I decided to apply

How do you see your contribution to Darfur and peace through your work? I am an Ambassador for UNAMID. My job is to translate mes-sages from the local community to the Police Advisors. I’m here to facilitate the communication and convey UNAMID messages to the Darfurian population.

How do you see yourself and your career after UNAMID? After UNAMID, I plan to go outside Sudan to continue my studies. I would like to get a Ph.D in the UK on English Littera-ture.

the interview

Alhadi Mohamed Suliman

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Age : 26Marital status : MarriedHometown : El Fasher, North DarfurPosition with UNAMID : Public Information Administrative Assistant

When did you start working for UNAMID? In March 2008.

What was your job before working for UNAMID? I was a secretary for the International Rescue Committe (IRC).

Why did you decide to join UNAMID?I decided to work for UNAMID because it is an international organization and you can gain experience through meeting dif-ferent staff from all over the world. Moreover UNAMID assists Darfur to get peace and as a Darfurian, I want to contribute to it too.

How do you see your contribution to Darfur and peace through your work? As an Assistant in Public Information, I have contributed a lot in passing peace messages to Darfurians. For example, our Outreach Unit has organized many activities such as debate at the University to support the peace process. As an Admin As-sistant, I take care of all the paperwork to support those activi-ties and make them possible.

How do you see yourself and your career after UNAMID? UNAMID has paved the way. I have learned a lot and it has been a chance to me. I hope to become a National Professional Officer (NPO).

the interview

Wisal Ali

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Age : 34Marital status : SingleHometown : El Fasher, North DarfurPosition with UNAMID : Community Policing Language Assistant

When did you start working for UNAMID? May 2008.

What was your job before working for UNAMID? I was an English language teacher in High School Secondary and field assistant for Action contre la faim, a French humani-tarian organization.

Why did you decide to join UNAMID? Because UNAMID was looking for new staff and humanitarian assistants encouraged me to do so.

How do you see your contribution to Darfur and peace through your work? I work as mediator between UAMID activities and community needs, to facilitate the conception of both. To get lasting peace in Darfur and common interest between UNAMID and Darfu-rians.

How do you see yourself and your career after UNAMID? I hope to provide the experience I’ve gained with UNAMID to the local community. I would also like to continue my studies abroad, in the USA.

the interview

Hamid Hamid Adam

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Age : 28Marital status : SingleHometown : El Fasher, North DarfurPosition with UNAMID : Legal Officer

When did you start working for UNAMID? In January 2009.

What was your job before working for UNAMID? I was a lawyer in a private office in El Fasher and I partici-pated to many workshops and seminars in El Fasher, Nyala and Khartoum, on legal issues and human rights organized by United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and Inter-national Rescue Committee (IRC) and some of NGOs. I have attended many workshops for capacity building in the Gambia, Uganda and Kenya. I did many lectures on Sudanese Laws. For example, on Personal status Law, Criminal Law and Civil Pro-cedure Law to the IDPs on Abu Shouk and Zamzam camps.

Why did you decide to join UNAMID? Because I want to be an international aid worker, with UNA-MID as the first step. So I have decided to be an aid worker for UNAMID because of Darfur and people in Darfur particularly. It is a golden opportunity to work with the UN and I have ac-quired knowledge on international laws and the UN system. (I am proud of myself as national staff with UNAMID).

How do you see your contribution to Darfur and peace through your work?Through my work I can help people by many means and by participating in meetings with stakeholders and in holding discussions with women about the peace process.

How do you see yourself and your career after UNAMID?I see myself and my career after UNAMID as a strong person who can stand without assistance. I will apply to other posts in UN missions over the world and I will continue my learning until I get my Ph.D in the USA.

the interview

Amna Jibril

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Age : 27Marital status : SingleHometown : El Fasher, North DarfurPosition with UNAMID : Gender Advisor

When did you start working for UNAMID? In February 2009.

What was your job before working for UNAMID? Administrative Assistant at Supreme Food Services.

Why did you decide to join UNAMID?I wanted to assist the people of Darfur.

How do you see your contribution to Darfur and peace through your work? Our workshops and meetings with women from Darfur help them to have a better position in the local society.

How do you see yourself and your career after UNAMID? I am currently studying Computer Science at El Fasher Univer-sity and after UNAMID, I would like to keep studying and get a Master’s degree.

the interview

Abdussalam Hamdan

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Age : 42Marital status : MarriedHometown : Juba, South SudanPosition with UNAMID : Mail & Pouch Assistant

When did you start working for UNAMID? In April 2008.

What was your job before working for UNAMID? I was a mail assistant with the African Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS) and then moved to UNAMID.

Why did you decide to join UNAMID?I want to get a better life and to provide a better education for my children.

How do you see your contribution to Darfur and peace through your work? UNAMID is sending and receiving a large amount of mail. My section and unit contributes to suppoert UNAMID to make sure everything run smoothly. It allows me to communicate with many peacekeepers from different countries and I’m proud of working here.

How do you see yourself and your career after UNAMID? With my experience and the money I put aside, I would like to be self-employed, in the private sector, doing business between Sudan and other countries like Kenya or Congo.

the interview

Altahir Yousif

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Age : 29Marital status : SingleHometown : Kabkabiya, North DarfurPosition with UNAMID : Human Rights Office Assistant

When did you start working for UNAMID?In May 2008.

What was your position before?I worked in the capacity of community worker with the Inter-national Rescue Committee (IRC) and as a Program Assistant for the Livelihood with Cooperative Housing Fundation Inter-national.

Why did you decide to become an aid worker for UNAMID?I decided to join UNAMID for many reasons. To contribute to helping the Darfurian community, to develop my own capacity and to deal with people from all over the world.

How do you see your contribution to Darfur and peace through your work?I think I contribute to peace in Darfur by facilitating the work of the Human Rights Section and by sharing information.

How do you see yourself and your career after UNAMID?There are some improvement and benefits after joining UNA-MID, so I am feeling satisfied with my career. Though I am still looking for further career development and would like to start a Master’s Degree in Human Rights next year and to, hopefully, become UN international staff.

the interview

Inas Mohamad Baraka Mohamad

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Age : n/a Marital status : Engaged Hometown : El Fasher, North Darfur Position with UNAMID : Human Resources Assistant

When did you start working for UNAMID? In June 2010.

What was your job before working for UNAMID? I was a translator and base operator for the international Hu-man Rights NGO “Children of the World.”

Why did you decide to join UNAMID?I have been working for NGOs since 1996 and I wanted to become UN international staff with a UN agency.

How do you see your contribution to Darfur and peace through your work?I think it is an important contribution. I serve my clients with good manners and hope to contribute to Darfur and the return of helpless people (IDPs) back to a normal live.

How do you see yourself and your career after UNAMID?I look forward to working with other UN agencies. Otherwise, I will go back to my old job, lecturer in a Sudanese University.

the interview

Alsadig Jadallah

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Index

Mayada Umbadda ................................................................Ahmed Issa ..........................................................................Martin Marianga ..................................................................Adam Yagoub Hamid Ahmed ..............................................Buthyana Arja .........................................................................Mohamed Zakaria Adam Hassan ........................................Mohamed Elfadl Mohamed ..................................................Aida Yagoub ..........................................................................Alhadi Mohamed Suliman ....................................................Wisal Ali .............................................................................Hamid Hamid Adam ..............................................................Amna Jibril .............................................................................Abdussalam Hamdan .............................................................Altahir Yousif ........................................................................Inas Mohamad Baraka Mohamad .........................................Alsadig Jadallah ....................................................................

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About the photographer

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Olivier Chassot, travel freak, fascinated by other cultures and willing to help populations in need, is a photographer based in El Fasher, North Darfur, Sudan. His wanderlust and his desire to live outside his comfort-zone made him leave his job as a software engineer in Switzerland to join the African Union/United Nations Mission in Darfur (UNAMID). In a case of “right place, right time,” he got the opportunity to become the official photographer of the Mis-sion. Olivier has been in Darfur since September 2008 and still hasn’t fully satisfied his curiosity about other cultures and dif-ferent ways of living. He hopes he never will.

National Staff of UNAMIDby Olivier ChassotFirst published 2011

Photographs and introduction text © Olivier Chassot - UNAMIDhttp://olivierchassot.zenfolio.com/http://unamid.unmissions.org/Design: Olivier Chassot, Arie Cahyadi Santoso

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UNAMID - Olivier CHASSOT 2011 All rights reserved