Modine Ephraim plays an essential role in her South Sudanese community as not only a leader of a women’s group but also a community health worker. Her journey to initiating a women’s group, which now selflessly serves her community, all began one day when she courageously reproached a group of men for drinking alcohol and acting recklessly in front of young people. When she walked past them on a different day, one of the men in the group sarcastically offered her a drink. Unexpectedly, another man in the group stopped him to remind him that Modine was a leader among the women in their community. This very moment touched Modine, and as she puts it, revealed God’s calling for her. In a community where men are known to be the leaders and women are expected to cave in, Modine challenged the norm by publicly speaking up about something she felt was wrong, and in turn, discovered her purpose.

Today, Modine serves as an official leader of a women’s group (which she put together), that provides ill women with protection and support. Modine, alongside other women in her group, frequently visits women who are sick and assists them with getting to and from the clinic for medical attention. Modine’s group also provides the ill women with whatever money the women in the group can spare, so that they can have money for food and medicine. Additionally, Modine’s women’s group helps cook and look after children in their community so that the women who are sick can get their rest and heal. Modine hopes that CMMB can find a partner to build a water point closer to her community so that children will not have to be left alone when the mothers have to walk for hours to get water.