(CNN)Nothing can stop Akuja de Garang, not even war.
The 41-year-old is the brain behind the Festival of Fashion and Arts for Peace in South Sudan, a yearly celebration that commemorates and promotes South Sudanese culture.
De Garang, a designer and advancement specialist, left Juba with her household as a kid, ultimately settling in the UK.
As a trainee De Garang found out about how her house nation was losing its cultural heritage due to the fact that of continuous dispute in the nation, and her desire to wait brought her back to Juba.
A curfew followed by a constraint on motion indicated the celebration didn’t happen in 2015 however De Garang hopes the 2017 edition will be much better than ever, however things do not come simple in a dispute zone.
A few of the craftsmen groups associated with the celebration were displaced and cannot be traced, inflation now stands at 450 percent, and the hazard of violence looms.
“In July [2016] individuals were left, everyone was on the edge, nobody understood exactly what would occur,” she stated. “So it wasn’t a smart idea to bring a group of individuals in one location. It was a substantial obligation to fly individuals into Juba with things being so tense. Individuals were leaving Juba and going to the towns. “
“It is difficult. Individuals need to choose. A great deal of individuals are sending their kids to refugee camps in Uganda since they simply do not have enough to support them.”
Beyond protecting culture, De Garang is dedicated to utilizing the celebration as a tool to assist her ladies and compatriots link.
“The South Sudanese have no idea each other extremely well,” she continued.
“We’ve been separated by war for several years therefore even telephone, Internet, and the chance to take a trip from one side of the nation to the other have actually been extremely unusual. We run with exactly what we become aware of the other [63] people and normally that’s unfavorable stereotypes.”
Read more: http://www.cnn.com/2017/01/23/africa/african-voices-akuja-de-garang-fashion-show-south-sudan/index.html