Glory Michael Sunday is from Akwa Ibom state in Nigeria and she’s currently nearing the end of her term with YAMEN (Young Anabaptist Mennonite Exchange Network) serving as a teacher at P4T Nursery and Primary School in Kyangwali Refugee Camp settlement, Uganda. She attends Ikot Ekang Itam Assembly, a congregation of Mennonite Church Nigeria.
As she nears the end of her term with YAMEN, we asked Glory some questions to reflect on her experience. Her answers have been edited for length and clarity.
Q: Let’s start with the basics, what is your name, where are you from and where are you serving with YAMEN?
My name is Glory Michael Sunday — yes, I have three English names. I'm from Nigeria originally and I'm serving at the P4T Nursery and Primary School in Kyangwali Refugee Settlement, Uganda.
Q: What made you interested in serving for a year with YAMEN?
It was the idea of giving back to society. I’m a product of community services. While growing up, at some stages, I couldn't pay my school fees and I had a teacher back then in class that was looking out for me, whether I paid my school fees or not and was encouraging, saying not to worry about all those things.
So, when I had the opportunity to give back to society and be a role model to children, I was like, “OK, why not just go try it?” I've loved teaching; while going to school I was also teaching back in Nigeria. I volunteered to teach older women. There is this smile and spark on their faces when they know they can't afford it, but they're getting it. It's an opportunity to see that people are looking up to you like a role model, so I thought why not do it and just be a change that people need to see?
Q: So why did you pick YAMEN specifically as opposed to something similar?
I specifically wanted to serve in Africa. This was my first time traveling outside my country and I was like, “OK, Africa is big, let's explore Africa.” It's a way of seeing the world, of getting to meet people.
It's a way of getting to learn culture, getting into different types of food and just seeing how life exists on its own differently. How people value life from a different perspective. Everything doesn't have to be on your own side. Why not just see how people see things on a different side? Maybe if you're not here, you'll not think this way.
Q: What type of work are you doing in Uganda?
I’m teaching. It's actually why I picked the Uganda assignment for my term — because it was a teaching space for a refugee camp school. I'm teaching English in Primary 4 and Primary 5.
Q: What has the experience of working in a refugee camp been like for you?
It wasn't easy at first because coming from a different part of the world, I'd never seen a refugee camp and seen people live at their lowest, but they are still living very happily. I told myself we should always have a reason to thank God because people are seeing life in its hardest parts, and they are still living very grateful.
It wasn't easy, but as time went on, I blended in with my colleagues at work. I blended in with the community. I had more friends. And eventually, I thought maybe the year should never be over because I don't know if I can be bored here. It's a place that is very quiet, but at the same time, it's very enjoyable.
Q: Is there someone you’ve connected with over your time at the school that’s really stuck with you?
I have been lucky to have had good role models in my life, and that’s something I wanted to be able to be for others. When I came here, there was a girl in class that I saw who was a stubborn child who all the teachers had written off. I got close to her, and we got talking and became friends, and I had to spend a lot of my time after school doing extra lessons with her to get her to the level other pupils were in her class. We took the process step by step.
She was having traumatic experiences back home. We addressed it. I got to talk to her mom, and then her grades started improving, even the head teacher was surprised at how well she was doing.
Then there was this day that she called, and she said she wanted to talk to me. Here in the camp, these young girls have a lot of boys asking them to have sex with them for petty cash. She came and said there was this guy who was disturbing her, so I asked her if she wanted a boyfriend at all, and she said “NO”.
She looked me in the eye and told me, “Teacher, I don’t want to disappoint you.” And that was a breakthrough moment for me. It was an eye-opener and for a moment, I was speechless, because I was always the one that didn’t want to be a disappointment. I remember not wanting to disappoint my parent, and now someone looks into my eyes and tells me they don't want to disappoint me — I broke down, and even when I got home, it was just resounding in my ear.
I never thought I'd come to this point in my life where I'd motivate someone enough that they would think that I am their role model, and they don't want to disappoint me. This is the peak of my life.
Like if I don't even do any other thing, I have done this, and I have achieved a lot, and I am grateful. I picked this program.
Q: Have there been moments or experiences that have challenged or grown your faith?
I didn't know I could worship God in a language I didn't understand, and I would still blend in. Because here, they speak mostly Swahili. This is a refugee camp, with people from Congo, Rwanda, South Sudan and other places, so it’s mixed language, but Swahili is the language mostly spoken in the camp.
But I connected with them because it was just like my local church. When it was time for praise and worship, they all went outside and they were dancing, I found myself joining them, and I didn't actually expect to be worshipping God in a language I totally didn’t understand.
Q: Have you found any Bible verses or passages particularly helpful or meaningful during your term?
Yes, I would say Proverbs 3:5-6 specifically, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”
That has been my go-to verse. Anytime I feel stressed or depressed, I just remember Proverbs 5, trust in the Lord with all your heart, just give it all unto him. Just lay all the burden on him, and he can take it. I wrote it on a piece of paper and I hang it in my room so when it seems as if it's too much, I just remember Proverbs 3:5: trust in the Lord with all your heart and He will direct thy path.
Q: Have there been any cultural differences you’ve had to navigate?
Where I come from in Nigeria, calling elders by their names is seen as a sign of disrespect. Even if the person is a month older than you, you’ll have to use titles like sir, madam, senior, brother or sister as a sign of respect. But it’s quite different here because no matter who you are or the position you hold, you’ll be addressed by your name. I was surprised when the kids were calling me “Glory”, and I was like.... what? Why are you calling me by my name?
I was kind of furious at first, I couldn’t understand why age or seniority didn’t matter to anyone here. But over time, I realized it’s actually a cultural choice rooted in promoting equality and unity. People intentionally avoid titles that might make someone feel superior to others. Even when I addressed someone as “sir” or “madam,” they looked at me strangely. What I saw as a sign of respect felt awkward to them.
Q: What would you say to someone who might be considering doing a year with YAMEN, but might be feeling unsure about it?
Everything in life is risky, there is no safe side in life. You always have to try out what you want to try out. And to anybody that is actually indecisive of whether to serve or not to serve, I’ll tell you, it's fun, it's motivational, it's inspiring to be a light to someone that has lost hope.
It's just a whole different thing, I can't see a reason why someone shouldn't. Anybody that is sitting on the fence — just let it go. Just take the decision and you won't regret it.
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Top photo caption: (L to R) Mackline Tumushabe, Otto Franco, YAMENer Glory Sunday and Esengo John-Baptist are colleagues at P4T Nursery and Primary School, Kyangwali Refugee Camp settlement, Uganda. (Photo courtesy of Glory Sunday)