No ordinary woman, Agnes Sieh is one of the few woman peacekeepers working as a carpenter with the UNMISS engineering section.

Agnes, who hails from Liberia, works in Malakal, Upper Nile State, scene of some of the heaviest fighting in the ongoing South Sudan conflict.

The mother of three is currently helping to build a camp for the Rwandan Battalion, who form part of the boost in mission military personnel to better protect civilians seeking refuge behind the UNMISS gate.

“I am a technical person,” said Agnes. “I work with my hands and I also supervise my colleagues. But I work hand-in-hand with them because the most important thing to me is to push the work forward.”

Agnes said she has had a passion for engineering since she was a young girl. “I always dreamed of becoming an engineer and I am one today … I thank God for that. I have been working for 15 years and enjoy what I do.”

One of the woman peacekeepers who stayed behind as conflict raged on in the country, she said coming from Liberia, which was once at war, helped her to cope with the hostile situation.

Before joining engineering in Malakal a few months ago, Agnes worked with the same section in Juba.

“I first came to South Sudan in 2011 where I took part in the construction of camp 4 in the UNMISS base (in Juba). This was a very good experience for me, especially as I had worked in my home country for many years.”

Despite security challenges – Malakal has been taken and retaken by government and opposition forces several times --, Agnes is determined to contribute to peace in South Sudan.

“Agnes is a remarkable woman,” said Isaac Nekir, one of the other carpenters. “She is hard working, respectful and well experienced, and we enjoy working with her.”

Agnes is among 116,517 peacekeepers serving in 16 peacekeeping missions around the world. She left her family in her home country to come and serve in South Sudan. What she and other peacekeepers need is support, appreciation and respect.