by Lou Manzo

It's not easy to get from the South End to the Sudanese village of Akon.

First, there's a six-and-a-half-hour plane ride from Boston to London, followed by a nine-and-a-half-hour trip from London to Nairobi, a four hour prop-plane ride over the devastated Sudan country-side to Loki Cho Kkio, a UN outpost in northern Sudan, and a final two charter plane before the huts of Akon emerge on the horizon.

But WBZ anchor Liz Walker and South End Health Clinic Physician Gloria White Hammond found that returning to the war-torn village grew easier each time. These two women found female partners across the world.

"Most times I do what I need to do but it's not like I have had a burning passion to return," said Hammond. "For some reason Sudan did that. We developed relationshipsÝ especially with the county commissioner, a woman named Achol Rehen. We were so impressed with her leadership and commitment."

Walker and Hammond have been crafting relationships with Sudanese women since July of 2001 when they worked with Christian Solidarity International for the liberation of over 6700 enslaved women and children. In almost a dozen combined trips since their initial foray, Hammond and Walker have brought supplies, funds, and perhaps, most importantly, video cameras.

The newest product of their work in Sudan is a documentary, A Glory from the God: The Story of Gloria White Hammond and My Sister's Keeper in Sudan. Produced by Liz Walker Journey Productions, the documentary will premiere at the Boston Public Library's Rabb Lecture Hall on Nov. 1. The film, Liz Walker's first production, weaves narratives of hope and rebirth through the struggle of Sudanese women.

"Even though their bodies had been enslaved for decades, they were not in their minds," said Hammond after meeting with the Sudanese women. "They showed tremendous resilience, ready to come back and rebuild their lives and contribute to their community."

The film, though, is as much about the resilience of the Sudanese people as it is about the resilience of Hammond herself. Midway through the project, Hammond revealed her own sexual abuse at the hands of her father, which she had suppressed for most of her life. As the memories tumbled out, Walker quickly became more than just a producer as Hammond confronted her own past.

"I didn't quite understand it myself," Hammond said. "Liz helped me understand why Sudan [became so important]. She was the first person to help me access the notion of healing. She was one of the first to help me understand my tenacity about supporting women who have been raped."

As the struggles of Hammond and Sudanese rape victims intertwine, barriers collapse.

In an interview in the film with Walker, Hammond describes one particularly emotional moment with a woman in Sudan. As the woman sat with Hammond, suppressed pain racked her face. Soon both women were crying, born worlds apart but brought together through horrible crimes.

"It was hard to cry alone," Hammond said. "So we cried together."

"The objective of the film is to educate people about genocide and inspire people to find their purpose," said Maya Balle, the volunteer executive director of Liz Walker Journey Productions. "But also one of the themes is that when you give to a community, you heal."

Balle has shown parts of the uncompleted film to schools, universities and businesses to raise money to finish the production as well as to fund the studio's sister organization My Sister's Keeper, which Hammond founded. The four-year-old nonprofit is raising money to construct a building for an all-girls school in Akon, Sudan, where classrooms are currently spots of shade under trees. They also are tackling some of the root causes of poor female education by providing grinding mills to families in the region. The grinding mills save women hours of work each day, which allows the girls to attend school.

Following the premiere of the documentary Nov. 1, Hammond and Walker will host a private cocktail reception. All proceeds from the event will go to My Sister's Keeper.

Although Hammond may be the focus of the film, she heaps praise on her producer and friend, Walker. Hammond remembers her initial hesitancy when Walker tried to convince her to travel to Sudan.

"I did not think it was a great idea," Hammond said. "I said 'no' but my husband said 'yes.' I tried to dissuade him but I felt like I should go to support Liz and be along side him. It wasn't until a few days before that I realized we were going in the midst of a war zone. I was really ill prepared for the experience"

Six years later, though, Hammond has no complaints about her friend dragging her into a war. Praise for Walker and her new film flows freely.

"It was fertilized in the womb of her heart," said Hammond. "Next week she brings forth the baby." Walker was unavailable for comment. She is currently hosting Big and Rich, a country western group, in Akon, Sudan as they deliver supplies for the school.

Issue Date: 10/25/2007, Posted On: 10/25/2007