With Business in Fish, Young Beny Takes Full Charge of His Livelihood

By Benjamin Takpiny

For the young man, Nyok Beny, fish has been the mainstay that has provided him with a footing in Pariang Town.

Shying away from discussing his family, the primary six pupil has enrolled into the fresh fish sale business to pay his school fees, feed and get accommodation in the South Sudanese capital where economic crisis is a continuous challenge to the inhabitants.

Beny hits the road before light of day to the nearby river at Ajuongthok in Ruweng Administrative Area where his home is situated.

By 8.00 am every morning, his business is done and the 18 year old has to run for the first lessons in school.

“Every day before the sun rises, I take my fishing net and walk to the river near our village for fishing,” Beny told The Dawn in an interview. “Fishing is how I earn money to pay for my school fees.”

Beny earns about 30,000 South Sudanese Pounds in a day’s sale, a substantial amount for a young boy faced with challenges in fending for himself.

He feeds on the money, clothes himself in it and as well buys scholastic materials alongside meeting the cost of his school fees, he said.

“Nobody is supporting me. I started this work in 2021,” Beny said, adding that he wasn’t enrolled in school by then.

“After I got some money I decided to go to school and I have been supporting myself since with this fishing money,” he said. “Fishing is my only way to earn money for school.”

In South Sudan, millions of school going age people cannot access education after learning institutions closed when civil war hit the country in 2013. A transitional government is currently running in the country-it has stopped the conflict but a dire economic situation still holds many children out of school.

The government, partners and education stakeholders are keen on ensuring a ramp up of education in the country but the tide is running slow due to added disadvantages including floods and regional turmoil which further aggravate the economic situation.

Beny’s livelihood hasn’t been cut out for him. He must struggle to survive in life. This is how individuals in a country like china curved out livelihood and together with their government developed a paced growing country. The United Nations shares the story of China’s development in its news on global perspective human stories, noting how African countries like South Sudan can learn from China’s success in lifting millions like Beny out of poverty.

And for youths to coin their own livelihood, as in the case of Beny, it is a rare opportunity that the country could bank on and other peers can take a leaf from.

According to Beny, he hits the road to the river very early “because the best fish are caught at dawn.”

“Sometimes, I spend hours in the water, waiting for a catch. When I do catch fish, I sell them at the market,” he said.

Beny has attached importance in education and therefore seeks quick buyers before running off to class.

“I sell my fish to those who take them to the market because I have no time because of the school,” he said, adding “sometimes I can go to the market in the morning and go to school in the evening.”

“The money I make goes towards buying school supplies and paying for my food. Some days, I hardly catch anything, and those are the hardest days but I know that education is my ticket out of poverty, so I keep going,” he added.

With the daily sales, Beny has also built a house, and set up a cozy sleeping quarters with a bed and mattress.

His plans however continues revolving around school.

“Going to school is important to me. I want to learn and become someone who can help my community,” Beny said.

I dream of becoming a teacher one day, so I can teach other children like me,” he said. “School gives me hope for a better future.”

Hard work is key, despite the challenges that come with juggling between it and school and at a young age, and Beny knows that clearly.

“Even though it’s tough, I won’t give up,” he said. “I know that with hard work and determination, things can get better.”