(JUBA) – After applying for 47 jobs with no success, South Sudanese accounting graduate Gal Gony Gatluak has turned to selling charcoal on the streets of Juba to support his family.
At 38, Gony says he chose action over waiting, launching his small charcoal business—Nyaruach Charcoal Business—along Suk Harnab Road, regardless of the sun or rain.
Despite once holding formal positions as an executive assistant, international aid worker, and a government official, Gony found himself unemployed after his last NGO contract ended. Rather than waiting endlessly for another office job, he decided to take control of his situation.
“I joined this business because my contract for an NGO job ended. I tried to hunt for another one, but I didn’t succeed. I have like 47 applications which I didn’t get shortlisted,” Gony told The Radio Community.
Gony holds a Bachelor of Arts in Accounting and Finance from Mekane Yesus Management and Leadership College in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. His professional background includes serving as Executive Secretary in the Office of the Governor of Upper Nile State, a WASH Officer with Relief International, and an Outreach Agent for Norwegian People’s Aid. He also holds a diploma in theology and has training in agriculture.
Even with such credentials, Gony, a father of ten, faced repeated disappointment in the job market.
“I decided not to wait for an unknown job. I decided to work for myself to feed my family,” he said.
In his new line of work, Gony sells smaller sacks of charcoal for 15,000 South Sudanese Pounds (SSP), equivalent to approximately $3.26, while bulk suppliers charge up to 45,000 SSP (around $9.78) for larger sacks. Charcoal prices in Juba have surged, making it both a needed and viable business opportunity for those willing to try.
For Gony, this venture is more than a way to earn money.
“I encourage young people to join us in business. Work with their own hands and feed their families. Let them stop playing dominoes on the streets waiting for the big uncle to give them something,” he said. “If you have something at hand, start any business that can give you something.”
