Support For Women in Governance Organiztion

Sarah Awel James Ajith is a passionate, dynamic, and determined women activist with a common purpose: growing women’s power at the grassroots level and building a more equal, peaceful, and prosperous future. Best known as ‘Mama Sarah’, I am an accomplished activist for complete women’s human rights and gender equality in political, social, and economic arenas, women’s social and economic empowerment, and ending gender- based violence against women and girls. I graduated from Khartoum University in 1985 Bachelor's Degree (BA) In Community Development, and also earned a B.Sc. Honors in Family and Child. Currently, I serve as the Executive Director of Support for Women in Governance Organization (SWIGO). A national non-governmental organization that carries out issues of advocacy for the inclusive and meaningful involvement of women in leadership, establishment of gender sensitivity acts through lobbying with stakeholders.

SWIGO was established and incorporated in 2016, to carry out the activities of closing the gap of gender imbalance in leadership and spearheading the issue of affirmative action 35%. I am also the former Chairperson for the South Sudan Women General Association, a network of women leaders spanning the 10 states of South Sudan. In addition, I have worked with a coalition of women to advocate for women's rights in the transitional constitution for South Sudan leading up to the drafting of the Transitional Constitution of the Republic of South Sudan, 2011.

During the years leading up to independence, I led the mobilization of women in the ten South Sudan States to vote during the referendum, whereby we advocated for the participation of women as well for the education of girls, child rights. As the chairperson of the South Sudan Women's General Association, I was one of the seven women activists from seven different states in the youngest country in the world, who traveled to Washington to attend the Gender Symposium and the South Sudan International Engagement Conference, the first two international conferences on South Sudan's future, co-hosted by the United States, South Sudan, and UN Women and the Institute for Inclusive Security, a U.S. non-governmental organization.

As the representative of my home state of Jonglei, I and my colleagues made policy recommendations for the South Sudan Development Plan, which was evaluated and formalized at the International Engagement Conference. At 56 years old, I can wholeheartedly stipulate that I am a veteran among the small but dedicated women's activists in South Sudan. During the post-war transition period - a time often marred by the all-too-familiar scenes of tribal tensions and ensuing violence - I and the South Sudan Women's General Association fraternity were busy leading civic outreach programs, observing elections, and working with a coalition of women to advocate for women's rights in the drafting of the transitional constitution.