Unleash the leaders: 400 girls in South Sudan

Look, we have a new Executive Director! After 10 years of tireless volunteer work, our founding Executive Director, Carol Rinehart, retired on June 1, 2015 and passed the elder stick to Daniel Majok Gai. Carol co-founded the organization with Isaac Khor Bher, a “lost boy of Sudan” after the two of them went to Sudan to find Isaac’s mother. Isaac and his mother had been separated by the countries long-lasting civil war for over 20 years. Education was the most important need in Isaacs’s home village of Konbeek, according to the elders. This request from the elders of Isaac’s village resulted in the launch of Project Education South Sudan. 

Daniel Majok Gai was another “lost boy of Sudan” who located to Denver Colorado in 2001, coming from the Kakuma Refugee Camp in northern Kenya. Daniel worked on his degree in Psychology at the University of Colorado in Denver, became a US Citizen, and joined the work of Project Education South Sudan. In 2009, he too made a trip with the organization to be reunited with his family in Pagook, a short distance from Isaac’s village. 

In 2011, Daniel offered to return to Sudan, shortly before South Sudan obtained its independence from the country of Sudan. Daniel went as a representative of Project Education South Sudan and decided to stay. On June 1 of this year, Daniel became the second Executive Director of the organization. He continues to live in Bor, South Sudan, making periodic trips to Denver to reconnect with supporters and friends.   

How can we thank all of you enough for sharing your hard earned dollars to support Daniel in his efforts to rebuild his war-torn country? You are truly making a difference! Here are some of the things that have been happening recently: 

• Following the report of last month, Project Education South Sudan (“PESS”) continues to support the training in HIV/ AIDS education and in sewing, using the sewing machine purchased from the program. Several schools are participating: Langbar Modern Academy Secondary School (LMASS), Sunlight Primary School (SPS), Dr. John Garang Memorial of University of Science and Technology (Dr. JG. MUST) and Pagook Primary School (PPS). During the dry season (which starts in a couple months), PESS’s training of trainers will accelerate to prepare more students, teachers, and leaders. Each school received two sewing machines and the schools are working on ways to turn this resource into sewing businesses.
• PESS is working closely with other NGOs who operate in Jonglei State, South Sudan, to look for space to open an office in Bor. This will increase the effectiveness of these organizations. PESS will work to increase community involvement in all its activities to build a more successful work ethic and the ability for members to apply for new jobs as they become available. PESS also works closely with the State Education Cluster to increase its effectiveness. Building community leaders and regularly meeting with them is a key part of the effort.
• PESS also plans to drill three more wells with funds received. These wells in Pagook and at Sunlight Primary School provide clean drinking water for students and their families. The dry season is also when this work gets done, using a local company, PARAD, to do the drilling.
• PESS also continues its girl’s education sponsorship program in cooperation with She’s the First, a successful worldwide program out of New York. Girl’s education is crucial to rebuilding South Says Daniel Gai, “I belief that girl education will tremendously improve our living standard as a country whole. The outcome is measureable even at this time. Educated women in our society today live a healthy life in our communities compared to less educated women. An educated woman knows how to make money which contributes enormously to the support of family.” She’s The First has agreed to increase their sponsorship of PESS selected students from 13 to 25 girls. Sponsorship includes payment of school tuition and fees and other non-educational costs for girls who are in various schools in the Bor and Juba areas of South Sudan. An example of the difference this program makes is seen in Abuk Deng Mayen, a young girl who has now completed her high school certificate and has been accepted at Mango Nursing School in Uganda for four years nursing degree.  A big thank to She’s The First for continuing Abuk’s higher education in Uganda.