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 South Sudan has a “Sister School” program that engages American students in bringing hope and education to one of the three schools PESS works with. The Sister School program also encourages American/South Sudanese exchanges to further develop relationships between the two cultures. When American students become acquainted with the story of the Lost Boys of Sudan and learn about PESS’ efforts to build schools, they not only learn about the issues facing students in the villages, they are offered a way to help.
PESS is continually raising awareness here in the U.S. as well as seeking funds for South Sudan school programs. There are many fun and creative ways primary, middle, secondary schools and universities across the nation 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.
Teaching/Fundraising Kit: Introduction
The teaching kit was designed to help teachers promote understanding about South Sudan, the Lost Boys, and the hope that exists in the region now that the twenty-year civil war has ended. The kit includes media that paints a vivid picture of the tragic journey undertaken by the Lost Boys many years ago, as well as the contemporary life of the Dinka tribe in the Jonglei region of South Sudan. 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 dying due to lack of medicine too often. They are ready for change and they place education at the top of the list of their needs in order to affect that change.
Eaglecrest High School teacher: “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 South 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 South 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 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 South Sudan. Also included, a PBS mini-documentary featuring PESS South Sudan Director and Lost Boy Daniel Majok Gai (14 minutes).
CD Table of Contents
Project Education South Sudan |
 |
Executive Summary |
Information about Sudan |
|
Map |
Journey of Hope DVD |
|
DVD Overview and Background Information |
PBS Mini Documentary |
|
South Sudan: The Newest Country in the World |
