32-year-old Khana Akur Majak from Lakes States wears many hats. She is a businesswoman, activist, wife, sister and daughter, but “disabled” is not a part of her identity. She refuses it to stop her from having a good, successful life.

While all her cousins and friends were playing outside, little Khana was stuck in bed, unable to walk. For three long years she never left the house. That’s when her grandmother put her foot down and promised Khana that her disability would not define her destiny and sent her to school. Khana graduated from both primary and secondary school and decided to be the voice of the voiceless, promising herself that she would succeed. And she did.

Mobility was her main challenge as she had to commute from a faraway area to reach town, but Khana’s husband could see her potential as a businesswoman and bought her a motorbike customized especially for disabled people. As a result, these days anyone walking the streets of Rumbek will sooner or later see her zoom by, on her way to catch up with one or more of her many responsibilities.

Starting out modestly by selling airtime for mobile phones, Khana had soon earned enough money to open a motel with ten rooms.

‘‘As my business was booming, I decided to expand the scope of my activities. I took a four-month-long sewing course, then I started designing and selling dresses,’’ she says.

Using her multiple skills and nous for business, Khana sustains not only herself but also her extended family. Yet she firmly believes that one should also contribute to the welfare of the community, which is why she has also found the time to be the deputy chairwoman of the Lakes State Women’s Association, and an avid activist for the rights of both women and physically impaired people.

‘’If we [disabled people] happen to be deprived of opportunities in one area of life it doesn’t mean that we cannot do something else. I was unable to walk, but look at me know, zipping around on my motorbike. Disability is not inability. Everyone must keep that in mind,’’ she affirms.