When Home is New: Sarah_Elliott_Returnees_Juba09

Agyedho Adwok Nyaba, 26, was born in 1985 in Juba and was only 6 months old when she left South Sudan. She lived in Kenya, Ethiopia, Uganda and Spain before moving back to South Sudan last October. “I knew South Sudan was home, but there was still a huge disconnect. Coming home was bittersweet, both my grandmothers had died, and I didn’t know any of my relatives. I was happy, but sad. I feel comfortable here; living as a refugee in a different country is hard, being here just feels right. Agyedho studied journalism as her BA and peace, conflict and development as her Masters degree, feeling like she understood the struggle of fighting for freedom and Independence. “All influences have made me what I am today, pain, sadness, happiness made me, and Independence is the highlight.” Today Agyedho works as a policy and PR officer for the Joint Donor Team and is thrilled to be able to apply theory to practice. “I always had that part of me that was connected, and motivated to come back. Who will build South Sudan, take the initiative? It has to be us, we’re the ones to build the south, I came back to contribute.” Agyedho’s father Peter Nyaba was acting Minister of High Education until the 9th of July. Agyedho has no memories of South Sudan because she was only a baby when she left, recently her mother pointed out to her the house where she was born in Juba town.

Agyedho Adwok Nyaba, 26, was born in 1985 in Juba and was only 6 months old when she left South Sudan. She lived in Kenya, Ethiopia, Uganda and Spain before moving back to South Sudan last October. “I knew South Sudan was home, but there was still a huge disconnect. Coming home was bittersweet, both my grandmothers had died, and I didn’t know any of my relatives. I was happy, but sad. I feel comfortable here; living as a refugee in a different country is hard, being here just feels right. Agyedho studied journalism as her BA and peace, conflict and development as her Masters degree, feeling like she understood the struggle of fighting for freedom and Independence. “All influences have made me what I am today, pain, sadness, happiness made me, and Independence is the highlight.” Today Agyedho works as a policy and PR officer for the Joint Donor Team and is thrilled to be able to apply theory to practice. “I always had that part of me that was connected, and motivated to come back. Who will build South Sudan, take the initiative? It has to be us, we’re the ones to build the south, I came back to contribute.” Agyedho’s father Peter Nyaba was acting Minister of High Education until the 9th of July. Agyedho has no memories of South Sudan because she was only a baby when she left, recently her mother pointed out to her the house where she was born in Juba town.