School Outreach/Sister School Program
Almost as important as building schools in South Sudan is the outreach to schools in the United States. Project Education Sudan has a “Sister School” program that engages American students to participate in bringing hope and education to one of the three schools PES is working with. When American students become acquainted with the story of the Lost Boys of Sudan and learn about Project Education Sudan’s efforts to build schools, they not only learn about the issues facing people in the villages, they are offered a way to help. Eaglecrest High School, Denver and The Women’s College of the University of Denver are both participating “Sister Schools” for the Ayak Anguei Girls Primary School in Konbek. Schools and Universities in Colorado, New Mexico, Texas, Kansas, and Washington State have raised over $29,000 to date.
Teaching/Fundraising Kit: Introduction
This teaching kit was designed to help teachers promote understanding about South Sudan, the Lost Boys, and the hope that exists in that region now that the twenty-year civil war has ended. The media included in the kit paints a vivid picture of the tragic journey undertaken by the Lost Boys many years ago, and also of life of the Dinka tribe in the Jonglei region of South Sudan today. The Dinka are wealthy – wealthy in community, love, and cultural traditions. They are also destitute — living in mud huts that must be rebuilt once a year, surviving on minimal food, little clean water, and too often dying for lack of medicine. They are ready for change and they place education at the top of the list of their needs in order to affect that change. Project Education Sudan is committed to building schools (and hope) in South Sudan — which is why this is also a fundraising kit.
Martha Riley, teacher at Eaglecrest High School, writes, “I have seen the deep impact of these stories on the students at my school. First, students begin to recognize how lucky they are to have their school and their education. Next, they start to feel connected to the people of Sudan as they attach sights and sounds and faces to a place so far away. Then, they realize that they have the power to help others — even others half way around the world. I believe these are important messages for our students.”
Ultimately, this is a project of hope. It is easy to become overwhelmed by all the problems around the world. Taking action by focusing on one place is empowering, both to children and to adults. Changing lives through education in one small village after another in Sudan will have a huge impact — both on the students here who choose to help, and certainly on the children’s lives in South Sudan.
Teaching/Fundraising Kit: Description
Information about the CD
The CD contains a teaching/fundraising kit in electronic form. You may choose to print each page and assemble a notebook or simply use pages as needed. Select the PDF Files folder to print picture-perfect copies or select the Doc Files folder to edit documents as needed. The following Table of Contents provides an overview.
Information about the DVD
The DVD enclosed in this packet includes primary source material and paints a vivid picture of the tragic journey undertaken by the Lost Boys of Sudan many years ago, as told by Isaac Khor Bher, co-founder of Project Education Sudan. It also describes the life of the Dinka tribe in the Jonglei region of South Sudan today and relays the story of the first Project Education Journey of Hope, taken in 2007. It is a very powerful 22-minute video that captures the attention of students.
A Note about Fundraising
Project Education Sudan is continually seeking funds for building schools as well as raising awareness. The Sister School program also encourages American/Sudanese exchanges to further develop relationships between the two cultures. There are many fun and creative ways primary, middle, secondary schools and universities across the nation that can and have helped us fund our projects. We, in turn bring back reports and images of the projects their schools have contributed to and made possible.
CD Table of Contents
Project Education Sudan |
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Executive Summary |
Information about Sudan |
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Map |
Journey of Hope DVD |
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DVD Overview and Background Information |
