In war-torn Sudan, Riak Gordon Kiir built three schools to educate kids in displacement camps. He left behind a legacy that has improved the community, previously robbed of their right to education. Now in Pakenham, good-willed Riak, 48, tells ANEEKA SIMONIS he is working to form his next legacy – bridging the gap between South Sudanese residents and the wider community.
“Pakenham is still a small area. If people join hands together and share activities together, we will have a good life.”
IT’S hard to imagine living in a country divided by conflict.
Harder still is imagining a future for children where kids went without schooling.
Riak Gordon Kiir, now the father of two teenage boys, speaks of how he moved near a displacement camp in Kenana years after the Sudan civil war broke out in 1983.
He was a volunteered evangelist at the Presbyterian Church of Sudan, opening his first ‘catch up’ school for kids who had missed out on important years of early education in the displaced Kenana community.
Some of the kids were 12 or 13 years of age when they began Grade 1 at the school, Kenana Presbyterian Primary School.
He was head of the school, but also taught classes of up to 140 students – some of which Riak still keeps in contact with today.
“Three are studying law, four are studying medicine, some others are doing community development,” he said.
Riak went on to build another two primary schools in Kenana, but was forced to leave due to “trouble with security” as Islamic extremists took issue with him for teaching students a faith other than Islam.
“When I left, they all cried. They really appreciated my time with them,” he recalled.
Riak, his pregnant wife Rebecca and infant son moved to Australia in 2004.
Having spent time in Perth and Alice Springs, Riak and his family eventually found themselves at home in Pakenham two and a half years ago.
His purpose here is very clear: uniting all cultures.
It was only a few weeks ago the Uniting Church in Pakenham appointed Riak to be the one to lead the change.
Riak, appointed the church’s community development worker, has been calling all the South Sudanese residents he knows to join to come together and form Cardinia Shire’s first South Sudanese community.
His first meeting was on Thursday 18 August. He hopes word of mouth will get out and more South Sudanese residents will come together to be part of the community that intends to form their base at the Main Street church site.
His vision is to help South Sudanese residents feel a part of a community by linking them into various support networks and involving them in activities such as a multicultural youth basketball team.
By helping deepen the residents’ roots in the Pakenham and wider community, Riak hopes families will feel a sense of connectedness with the area – hopefully assisting in their integration.
He explained that South Sudanese residents are struggling to assimilate as they have left behind their old culture – but have not yet fully integrated into the community they are living in.
“We need to form our own community here … leave everything behind and follow Cardinia Shire. If they integrate with Australian society, that’s how they will learn.”
He wants to get the ball rolling fast, citing fears segregation in the community is starting to worsen.
“All the time, my brain is always coming up thinking ‘why don’t we want to do everything together’?” he said.
“I hope in my life more people will unite and make a more peaceful life in the community.
“Pakenham is still a small area. If people join hands together and share activities together, we will have a good life.”
Riak recently met with police, state politicians and council welfare workers to discuss a plan to help better integrate South Sudanese residents into the Pakenham and wider community.
Shadow Crime Prevention Minister Edward O’Donohue, Bass MP Brian Paynter, Pakenham police Senior Sergeant Graeme Stanley, Cardinia Shire councillor Leticia Wilmot and a number of council welfare workers attended the planning meeting on Friday 12 August.
Some of the recommendations included:
* Form a South Sudanese community group.
* Form a youth basketball team encouraging South Sudanese people and other multicultural youths to get involved in a sporting community.
* Encourage youths to remain engaged in education – school, TAFE or a trade.
* Explore benefits of intergenerational programs connecting elderly residents with young South Sudanese residents.
* Encourage parents of South Sudanese youths to better engage in their child’s education or sport club.
* Facilitate a meeting between Mr Kiir and the principal at Pakenham Secondary School to discuss issues relating to students.
* Breakdown barriers to engagement with broader community activities including cost, transport issues.
* Encourage local businesses to employ South Sudanese youth.
Like the many childrens’ lives he touched in South Sudan, Riak hopes to do the same locally to improve outcomes for all members of Pakenham’s multi-cultural community.
If you’re interested in being part of the community group, contact Mr Kiir on 0470 122 068 or riakg3@hotmail.com
