My name is Rose Mary Igomaa. I am 42 years old and married with 3 children, who are currently studying in Uganda. I was employed by DDG on the 1st of April 2007 as a Mine Risk Educator and Community Liaison Officer.

I chose to work with DDG South Sudan because I wanted to assist the rebuilding of our nation and the community in which I live. At the same time it allows me to support my family and gain usable skills for the future. I believe the work I do with DDG is very important to our community, in particular the people we work with – people returning from the refugee camps in Uganda. We enable them to understand the danger posed by UXOs and mines left over from the war and teach them how to react when they come across these items. This contributes to a greater security when they return to their homes.

Life for women in South Sudan is very difficult. There is high need for training and adult education as most women are trapped in domestic work which does not allow them to earn an income. They are forced to rely on others to support themselves and their families. Working for DDG has had a very big impact on our (the women in DDG) lives as it provides us an income and allows us to perform an important job in the community.

Personally, it helps me greatly in supporting my 3 children’s education in Uganda. My income allows me to pay for boarding school and for relatives to support them whilst I am working.

With regard to my future I would like to continue working for DDG, in order to support my family. In the long term I hope to gain as many skills and as much training as I can, which will enable me to pass them on to other women in my community and thereby allow them to start generating their own incomes.