Enhancing Employee Well-being and Fostering a Healthy Work Environment

Dhieu Mathok Diing Wol, PhD, reflects on his extensive and challenging learning journey that began five decades ago in the remote village of Araith, Northern Bahr el Ghazal. His early education started at Araith Primary School, where he faced significant hardships, including walking six kilometers daily to attend classes without food. Despite the ridicule he faced from classmates for losing his milk teeth, he remained determined to continue his education.

After completing primary school, he moved on to Aweil Intermediate School, which was 51 kilometers away. He was fortunate to have access to a railway that connected Wau in Bahr el Ghazal to Babanousa in Kordofan, northern Sudan. Additionally, the regional government in Juba announced free education, which further facilitated his schooling. However, his education was disrupted when conflict erupted in the country, forcing him to leave Nyamelell Secondary School. Many of his classmates joined the rebellion and did not return to school.

Undeterred, he traveled to Khartoum with other students, facing difficulties due to a lack of political connections and family support. After struggling to find a school in Khartoum, he returned to Nyamelell, which had relocated to Aweil due to the war. The school was in disarray, with many teachers leaving, leading to a poor learning environment. During the Sudan School Certificate examinations, only six students passed, including him, but his score was not sufficient for university admission. Determined to improve his situation, he retook the exams and was eventually admitted to the University of Juba’s Faculty of Social and Economic Studies, where he studied Public Administration and Management.

While at university, conflict escalated around Juba, prompting the administration to move the university to Khartoum. Despite the turmoil, he graduated successfully. However, his aspirations of becoming a local government officer were thwarted by the regime’s control over sensitive positions. He returned home to work in the Department of Commerce and Supply in Wau and later became the head of the Directorate of Commerce and Supply in Aweil. His political career began when he was elected as a Parliamentarian in Omdurman.

Following political tensions that led to the dissolution of parliament, he was appointed Minister of Health and Social Welfare in Northern Bahr el Ghazal. His role was quickly revised, and he became the State Minister in the presidency, focusing on peace efforts in the country. As a senior government official, he recognized the importance of further education and pursued a Master’s degree, becoming the first Minister to attend classes alongside students. His commitment to education inspired many of his colleagues.

After completing his Master’s, he enrolled in a PhD program while continuing his ministerial duties. Upon earning his PhD, he joined the University of Juba as an adjunct Associate Professor. His belief in lifelong learning led him to pursue a Post-Doctorate at Atlantic International University (AIU). The flexible academic system at AIU allowed him to balance his responsibilities as a Minister with his studies, enabling him to achieve his goal of obtaining a Post-Doctorate degree.

Throughout his journey, he emphasizes the importance of continuous learning, echoing Albert Einstein’s sentiment that one should never stop learning because life never stops teaching.