Why did South Sudan's civil servants not quit during the war?

South Sudan’s civil servants stayed at their jobs during the war because they had important work to do, even when things got tough.

Imagine you’re playing a game with your friends, but suddenly it starts raining hard outside. You might want to run inside for shelter, but if you're the one keeping score or passing out toys, you probably stay in the game, just like the civil servants who stayed at work during the war.

Civil servants are like the teachers, doctors, and librarians of a country. Even when there is a big fight going on around them, they know that if they leave, people might not get their meals, or the hospital might stop working, just like how you’d miss out on fun if no one was keeping score.

Also, some civil servants got special jobs or protection so they could keep helping others. It’s like being given a raincoat in the middle of a storm, it helps you stay dry and keeps you playing the game!

So even when things were hard, many civil servants stayed because they knew their work was important, like how you want to be part of the fun, no matter what.