WESTERN EQUATORIA - Being born with a disability does make life harder, but it doesn’t stop anybody from being a caregiver, a provider, and an inspiration.

That’s an important lesson that one can take away from Stephen Gabriel Ndumuku, a talented carpenter from South Sudan’s Western Equatoria state.

It is impossible for this brave and wise 45-year-old to fully use his legs.

Stephen’s view: “I still have very strong arms.”

He honed his innate skill for woodwork through sheer grit, the help of a compassionate mentor – who he calls his “hero”— and now, supports six children.

“Marriage didn’t happen for me,” he reminisces. “A lot of the women I met when I was younger didn’t want to take on the extras that come with somebody disabled. It was hurtful at the time, but I can be stoic,” he says with a bittersweet half-smile.

The lack of a lifelong partner doesn’t mean that Stephen didn’t have to shoulder family responsibilities.

“My brother died suddenly and his wife was left alone with six young children. I knew immediately that it was my duty to step up and provide them the best possible education and healthcare that I could muster. I began taking every carpentry job I could find and, financially, I am their primary caretaker,” he reveals.

Is this an added burden?

“There is nothing greater than family ties. As a country, we are going through a time when more and more young people are getting embroiled in conflict. I believe that its vital for my brother’s children to have stability and education so that they can grow up to be peacemakers and leaders,” Stephen states with conviction.

“People often look down on me; they think I can’t fend for myself. But I am proud to say that I play a large role in bringing up six children with the right values. They are the future of South Sudan,” he adds.

Stephen is a firm believer in inclusivity.

“We have suffered enough from war, and it is time for all South Sudanese to work towards progress. Including disabled people like me in discussions about our nation’s future is necessary. I may be a simple man but I am a citizen of this country with very particular troubles and challenges. I want to make sure that others who suffer similar issues—such as coping with a disability—have more advantages than I did,” he explains.

Despite his self-avowed simplicity, Stephen has a powerful message for the disabled community worldwide.

“A physical shortfall doesn’t define you. What does define a person is what they make of their lives. I want to encourage every disabled person in South Sudan and across the world to know their worth, speak up for equal rights and lend a helping hand to each other. There is power in unity.”