The Sultan’s Stand: How one leader in Lokoloko is championing equality and healing
Peter Teodoro rallies communities to challenge harmful norms and build safer communities for women and girls in South Sudan
Wau, Western Bahr el Ghazal, South Sudan – at a child friendly space, in Lokoloko, men are having intense discussions with Sultan Peter Teodoro Tarifa listening, mediating, and guiding them through the conversation.
He is a trusted figure, a problem solver, and a bridge between tradition and transformation. Once shaped by rigid beliefs, he now leads with empathy, wisdom, and a deep commitment to gender equality.
I was not born in Lokoloko, but I have lived here since I was 18. Now I am 67. I know this community deeply.
Peter’s journey to leadership was not inherited, it was earned. A former police detective trained in Khartoum, he has spent decades serving his community. His transformation began with personal reflection and grew through his involvement in the Communities Care Programme.
“I didn’t want to engage with girls in school. I didn’t think I could love my wife,” he admits. “But beliefs change. Nothing is permanent.”
The Communities Care Programme engages diverse community groups in structured dialogues to challenge harmful social norms and promote gender equality. As a Community Discussion Leader (CDL), Peter facilitates sessions and helps others reflect on issues like intimate partner violence, child marriage, and abandonment.
Peter’s leadership is grounded in compassion. He shares the story of a pregnant woman whose husband had stopped supporting her. Instead of escalating the issue, Peter mediated with care.
“I called the husband, invited them both, and listened,” he says. “We resolved it peacefully, like a family matter not a court case.”
He has handled many cases such as domestic disputes, misunderstandings, and moments of crisis with patience and wisdom. “Some cases need calm,” he says. “I ask them, ‘How did you first fall in love?’ That helps them remember and reconcile.”
Through the programme, Peter has become a vocal advocate for women’s rights.
“A woman has the right to be a partner. My assistant is a woman. I encourage her because she is a leader in the community.”
His daily routine reflects his commitment. He checks on families, helps those in need, and even regrets past habits like drinking and smoking. “I quit because I wanted good health and peace with others,” he says. Peter believes that change takes time, but he is hopeful.
There are good things and bad things in our society. The bad things need time and work. But we are continuing.
He dreams of a society where women and men share leadership, where girls go to school, and where families live in peace. "If we change in the community, if we put new rules, maybe it will be a symbol for other communities."
"I didn’t choose to be here," Peter says. "But I accepted the programme because I believe in it. You cannot allow change in the community without being part of it."
The Communities Care programme supported by UKAID from the UK Government is reaching leaders like Sultan Peter—equipping them with tools, training, and support to lead change from within.
