Three MAG employees have become the first South Sudanese to attain IMAS (International Mine Action Standards) level three EOD (emergency ordnance disposal) certification. Below, one of them – Matur Apach Mangwak – reflects on the experience.
"My name is Matur Apach Mangwak and I am Sudanese by nationality, from Rumbek in South Sudan. I am 37 years old and have been working for MAG as the Small Arms and Light Weapons Team Leader in Yei County, Central Equatoria.
Recently, I was given the opportunity to attend an IMAS certified course in Nairobi to reach the internationally recognised level three EOD (emergency ordnance disposal) qualification. There were many people from all over the world, including Britain, Kenya, Nepal, Sudan, Croatia, Zimbabwe and New Zealand. Although everyone was from a different place we all got along as friends throughout the course.
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| MAG graduates from the IMATC EOD Level 3 course: (left-right) Akech Athieu, Ivica Stilin, Dut Mading, Mick Beeby, Matur Apach Mangwak, Charlie McFarlane, Phil Halford |
Lessons began at 7:30am after breakfast and went on for eight hours a day, and were then followed with homework. The teaching was excellent and good questions were raised. We learnt a lot about EOD and clearance methodologies and techniques. This was directly related to the work I do in Sudan and complemented the practical knowledge and experience I already have.
Our teachers were from Britain and America and their background was in the military. They managed to teach in a way that everyone understood and so at the end I got very good results. We graduated from training on September 14th, 2007 and everybody was very happy and grateful for the opportunity they had received.
I would like to give special thanks to the administration of IMAS International Mine Action Training Centre (IMATC), for having organised such a good course. I am also very appreciative of MAG for giving me this opportunity to continue improving the standards of the staff, and supporting me throughout the course. I look forward to implementing what I learnt from IMATC in the field with the Small Arms and Light Weapons Team. "
» Knowledge and practice were tested through written and practical examination. Matur Apach Magwak, Akech Athieu and Dut Mading all passed the course and became the first South Sudanese to attain IMAS level three EOD certification. They will undergo further on-the-job training with MAG before undergoing UNMAO accreditation, which will qualify them to lead and manage EOD teams in the field replacing international Technical Field Managers.
Hannah Bryce, MAG Sudan Programme Officer (South)
Links:
» More on MAG's work in Sudan
» More on EOD (explosive ordnance disposal)
» Saving lives in Sudan: photo gallery
19 February 08
MAG’s work in Sudan is funded and supported by: Government of Canada Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT); Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs; the European Commission’s Humanitarian Aid Department, ECHO; EuropeAid; Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration, US Department of State; Office of Weapons Removal and Abatement, US Department of State; the United Nations
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