Have you ever looked in the mirror and asked yourself, “Who am I, really?” Not just the face staring back with half-finished toothpaste foam, but the deeper you—your being, your purpose, your drive. At Panmal Foundation, we believe the greatest journey you’ll ever take is not to Paris, Nairobi, or even Juba’s bustling Konyo Konyo Market—it’s the journey inward. That’s where true change begins.
Our philosophy is simple yet profound: Being + Doing = Meaning. In mathematical terms, M = {B, D²}. No, you don’t need a PhD in quantum physics to understand this. It simply means your identity (being) combined with your action (doing) creates your purpose (meaning). Without action, your being is like a smartphone with no charger. Without identity, your doing is like running in circles—not a marathon, but more like chasing chickens in your neighbor’s compound.
Why Panmal Exists
We didn’t start Panmal Foundation because we were bored one Sunday afternoon. We were born out of struggle, resilience, and a vision: to inspire, empower, and integrate individuals into the ecosystem of life and existence in South Sudan and beyond.
Our vision is clear: to see a world where individuals discover their true selves and live meaningful lives.
Our mission is action-oriented: to equip youth, intellectuals, and communities with the tools, knowledge, and opportunities they need to turn potential into purpose, and purpose into impact.
Our core values—peace, integrity, growth, and community—guide us like a compass. Peace reminds us of home. Integrity keeps us honest. Growth keeps us learning. Community keeps us human.
And yes, we take humour seriously. Because if you can’t laugh at your mistakes, someone else surely will.
The Curse of the Half-Self
One of the greatest tragedies in life is living half of yourself. Think about it. How many people wake up every day, drag themselves to a job they hate, spend hours gossiping about politicians they’ll never meet, and then collapse on the bed only to repeat the cycle tomorrow? That’s not life. That’s survival with a side dish of frustration.
At Panmal, we don’t want you to live as half a self. We want you whole. Complete. A person who knows their strengths, understands their weaknesses, and actively shapes their life with intention.
But discovering yourself isn’t a one-day seminar where you sit on plastic chairs, eat oily samosas, and clap politely. No, it’s a lifelong practice—a mix of reflection, action, and yes, failure. Failure is a friend in disguise, a teacher wearing a scary mask.
Lessons from Life Skills
In our trainings, we emphasize life skills like communication, time management, financial literacy, and emotional resilience. These may sound like the boring stuff your uncle lectures you about when you ask for transport money, but they are the real foundation of success.
Take communication, for instance. It’s not just about talking a lot (we all know someone who mistakes noise for wisdom). It’s about listening deeply, respecting others, and knowing when to keep quiet. Silence, believe it or not, is sometimes the most powerful form of communication.
Then there’s time management. Some of us treat time as though it were born in a refugee camp—resilient enough to survive endless abuse. But time is life itself. Wasting it is like tearing pages out of your own book.
Financial management is another one. If you don’t tell your money where to go, it will take a taxi and disappear. Budgets aren’t chains; they are roadmaps to freedom.
And don’t forget emotional management. If you don’t learn to master your emotions, they’ll master you. Anger, for example, is like fire: useful in the kitchen, dangerous in the bedroom, catastrophic in politics.
Being: Who Are You Really?
“Being” is the quiet but powerful part of our philosophy. It asks: who are you when no one is watching? What values guide you? What do you stand for? If someone deleted your Facebook account today, would you still exist?
Being means defining yourself beyond tribe, title, or temporary possessions. It means you’re more than “a Dinka man,” “a Nuer woman,” or “an accountant in Juba.” It’s deeper. It’s about aligning with peace, integrity, growth, and community—the values we cherish.
Doing: Movement with Meaning
Action is where many of us stumble. We dream big—like building skyscrapers in Bor or inventing the next M-Pesa for South Sudan—but we forget to take the small steps that make dreams real.
Doing means waking up and practicing discipline. It’s sending that proposal, saving that 500 SSP instead of buying another round of tea, or choosing to mentor one youth instead of debating endlessly about leadership on WhatsApp groups.
Doing is sweat. Doing is responsibility. Doing is the bridge between who you are and who you can become.
The Equation in Action
Let’s put it together. Imagine a young woman named Nyayang. Her “being” tells her she values education and integrity. Her “doing” is teaching children under a mango tree in her village. Together, these create her “meaning”—she becomes a pillar of hope in her community.
Or picture a young man named Gatluak. His “being” is rooted in resilience. His “doing” is starting a small agro-business despite floods and lack of tools. His “meaning”? Feeding not just his family but creating jobs for others.
That’s the Panmal way. It’s not rocket science; it’s purpose science.
Community: No One Discovers Alone
Self-discovery is not a solo marathon; it’s more like a football match. Yes, you run your race, but you need a team. At Panmal, we believe in the power of community. Your growth matters, but so does the growth of those around you.
We encourage youth to form networks, think tanks, and partnerships. Because the truth is, no one person can carry a country, not even Superman (and last we checked, he doesn’t have a South Sudanese passport).
Humour as a Survival Skill
If you grew up in South Sudan, you already know laughter is not just entertainment—it’s medicine. When the roads flood, when the power goes off for the fifth time today, or when your uncle insists he once shook hands with Dr. John Garang, humour keeps us sane.
We laugh, not because life is easy, but because it’s hard. Laughter is our resilience in action. At Panmal, we integrate humour into our trainings because seriousness without joy is a shortcut to burnout.
What You Can Do Today
- Reflect. Take 10 minutes today and ask: Who am I? What do I value? What makes me feel alive? Write it down.
- Act. Choose one small action that aligns with your being. Don’t wait for next year. Start today.
- Connect. Share your journey with others. Mentor, teach, or simply listen. Growth multiplies when shared.
The Panmal Promise
We’re not promising you riches overnight or a visa to Canada. What we promise is a framework, a philosophy, and a community that will help you discover and improve your true self.
Being + Doing = Meaning is more than a slogan. It’s a way of life. And when South Sudanese youths embrace it, they won’t just change their own lives—they’ll change the nation.
Because in the end, the greatest discovery isn’t out there. It’s in here. Inside you. And trust me, it’s worth finding.
This is great! thank you for this message.