Receive our earnest wishes wherever you are. It is our hope that you are doing well as we do here.
To begin with, our meeting was a success. No doubt in my mind that whatever we said or did was meant for the development of Ayat and Aweil in general.
Before everything else, we gladly gave chance to our returning brother, Garang Kenyang, to brief us on matters affecting Ayat. Education, health and food status were said to be in shambles. However, according to him, the need for unity and education in Ayatland is uppermost. He recommended that we select a visiting committee with intent to mending relations and solidifying Ayat Unity.
To the best of my knowledge, I believe, our meeting was concluded on a jovial note: it was a successful convention. Thusly, we thoroughly deliberated on important issues. At the end of the day, we:
Approved the drafted constitution
Received encouraging financial report
Held general Elections
Discussed development and growth-promoting programs (such as school, hospital and hunger)
Hosted a closing party.
Moreover, because ADF is forward-looking, we agreed on undertaking the following in future:
1. Holding our next meeting in Iowa (2006)
2. Opening up Bank Account under ADF
3. Finding proper way of appropriating relief fund.
4. Building two classrooms at Marialbai.
5. Creating local ADF branches at every state where our people live (intended to aid ADF). This clause is intended for those states that have not yet formed ‘ADF branch”.
6. Hosting ‘Cultural Event Day’ once a year.
In conclusion, the fact that we have accomplished the aforementioned items speaks volume of our meeting as a success.
Though I am not officially permitted to comment on some vital developmental plans you have initiated to alleviate these disturbing situations for your devastated people. It is in fact true that someone who cares for humanity and common welfare of the people in Ayat and Aweil should comment on such a progressive track you have chosen. I am extremely happy to see you gradually moving forward in a right track. Keep it up!
Further, I would like to tell you what Ngugi wa thiongo told his people during a colonial period in Africa, and that was in 1960s.
Ngugi wa thiongo said, "let's dream to change the world but not to sleep to dream." Sincerely speaking, I believe, this time on, Ayatians and other parts of Aweil are dreaming to promote a postive and open image of our communities, which will in the end sum up to the development of Aweil. Fundamentally, people should not forget that for Aweil to develop or move forward prosperously, it needs multidimensional works or commitments.
Therefore, the "motto" I would encourage everybody to sing is to dream to change our communities but not to sleep to dream.
More importantly, such programs or plans are indeed foundational to the futures of the next generations. Thus let's hold ourselves accountable for the tomorrows of the next posterities in respective families, communities, and societies. Let's work collaboratively to lay an unshakable foundation for the current and next generations.
Let's work with a people of a good will to free ourselves from abject poverty, disunity, illiteracy, epidemic illness and poor sanitation and other social problems. Alice Garang, the biggest concerns [education, health, extreme food shortages] you have mentioned are the major evils which have deprived our people of humanity. And I therefore encourage you and your team to continue monitorinng or assessing the situations to come out with true nature of the problems and how they will be handled in the near future.
Thanks for your forward-looking comments, especially, the wisdom sandwiched in those kind words.
Truly, by all accounts, we must disabuse the notion that southerners or the neglected states such as Aweil are ungovernable and unfit for democracy—essential for implementation of macro-economic policies intended for development initiatives. You bet! The future depends of the efforts and inclusive approach of present generation.
Thanks,
