Friendship reaches from Sudan to our Garden City
FRIENDSHIP is the cement that holds the world together – and that is certainly true for Sisilia Ajang and Mary Wagner.
Mrs Ajang had arrived in Toowoomba from Sudan when she first met Mrs Wagner, a philanthropist and local identity.
In a new culture, and with four children to care for, Mrs Ajang said she faced down many obstacles with Mrs Wagner by her side.
“Back at home I did my education in Arabic and didn’t have a background in English,” Mrs Ajang said.
“So when I came here, I wasn’t able to speak with my friend Mary, but I learned the language gradually.
“We would always have fun, even when I didn’t know English – she would come to my house and ask what I needed.”
Mrs Ajang had big aspirations, but concern for her sister in Sudan occupied her thoughts.
“Mary asked me what was on my mind,” Mrs Ajang said.
“I told her that my sister and her family were struggling and I was always thinking about them.
“She put in a big effort to bring my sister and her family here – and that allowed me to recover.
“After that, I said ‘I want to go university’.”
It wasn’t long until Mrs Ajang was on the path to achieving her dreams, enrolling in a Bachelor of Nursing at the University of Southern Queensland.
Last month, Mrs Wagner was in the crowd as Mrs Ajang crossed the stage at the University of Southern Queensland’s winter graduation ceremony.