As we celebrate International Women’s Day, we highlight two inspiring South Sudanese women who embody this year’s theme by being game-changers in the fashion and sports industries in South Sudan.
The Fashion Designer: Winny Raymond
Winny Raymond, the founder of Pita Kollection speaks to Radio Tamazuj.
"Designing for me is a gift. Since I was young, I liked drawing with much focus on dressing code and design, for both men and women. My notebooks are full of drawings of clothes. I was just doing it for fun with no intention of becoming who I am today,” she muses.
“Whenever I took my cloth to a tailor, I would instruct them in a very specific way. Sometimes in an event that I got a readymade cloth, I used to redesign it by removing some parts or add some new shapes,” the fashion enthusiast said.
She says after designing her outfit for a relative’s wedding in 2016, she received a lot of compliments. From then she was invited to Khartoum, Sudan where for the first time she showcased some of her designs.
“We have initiated a platform for Fashion Nile under Nile-Couture since 2018 and it continues to be held every year. I expose my designs during the event and many individuals come and request more work for their babies, women, wedding, and social events. This is where I get my clients and this is where I was open up to them,” she explained.
Like every start-up, Winny encountered many challenges including capital and the community’s negative perception of fashion designing. But she says that did not dampen her spirits.
“When you intend to do something you like, despite critics from people, you will always make it. No one is going to stop you. And always when you are beginning a business you may not know how to begin and where to get capital. But not every business needs the same capital. I started taking my designs to the tailor because I did not own a sewing machine but I was able to take my clothes to tailors,” Winny says. “Some of my family members looked at fashion design as something meaningless. They think you are doing nonsense. Some of them will think you are wasting your time in fashion designing in a country such as South Sudan. But when you are determined to follow your dreams you will prove them wrong.”
When starting, Winny did fashion designing as a side hustle and saved up money which she used to organize fashion events. Friends and close family have also supported her journey. But now, “I have three partners whom we used to organize this event together. We also visit local companies so they can support us and we advertise their products.”
She urges all South Sudanese women to take entrepreneurship seriously.
“Anything you want to do and you have a passion for, you will succeed. You also need to understand the nature of your business and its requirement for that business. In the beginning, there will be losses but at the end of the day you know where you are heading,” she advised.
The Football Referee: Aki Hellen
Aki Hellen is a referee at the Torit Local Football Association of Eastern Equatoria State. She is also a mother and a wife.
As a former female footballer, Hellen ventures into the predominantly male field of football refereeing in 2019 after her spouse showed disinterest in her continuing as a player. Her love for football then turned into refereeing, that way she remains in the game.
“I had been a footballer when I was young and I love football. When I got married, my husband did not like what I was doing. I spoke to my father who is also a sportsman about this and he gave me the idea to become a referee since I had already played for a long time. I immediately took the advice and started training. Olibo George and Oting Gaid helped train me to become a referee,” she said.
Many cultural beliefs hinder the development of women in sports across Africa. In Torit, there are numerous misconceptions about women in sports and especially football. Some people believe a female player cannot conceive and many parents discourage their children from becoming sportswomen. However, Hellen, born to a sportsman was lucky and for the love of the game, enjoys her work.
“I know that not many people like the job am doing because they say it does not pay. At the football pitch many people abuse me and say that I just love football and I have refused to give birth, but they don’t know I have children,” Hellen adds.
“I am very happy in this profession, I do not care what people are saying, I am happy!” the sportswoman said.
Being a wife and mother, Hellen says she has to plan her time well so that she gives the needed attention to both her family and work.
“I wake up very early especially on the days we have practice, on Saturday, Tuesday, and Thursday evenings. I make sure I cook for the children and prepare everything for them. At around 4 pm I leave for the field after they have eaten. I wake up at 4 am so that I can do everything before my time comes,” She explained.
Being the only woman among six male referees in the association, Hellen has to work so much harder to earn respect and recognition.
Her efforts paid off just last week when she traveled to the capital Juba to referee the women’s national football tournament.
“I have been refereeing in Torit but am seeing this year I made some changes. I went to Juba and refereed last week at Buluk grounds in the game between Bentiu and Juba in South Sudan women league which is ongoing now,” she added.
For now, Hellen hopes to become a national referee and inspire other young women.
And on that sporty note, Radio Tamazuj wishes you all a happy International Women's Day.
NOTICE OF CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story alluded to an interview with fashion designer Winnie Godi. However, Radio Tamazuj spoke to fashion designer Winny Raymond.