Local Church Becomes Orphanage | Aweil, South Sudan

Local Church Appeal for Support of 15-abandoned children in Aweil

By Thiik-awet,

AWEIL, South Sudan,

A local church in South Sudan’s Northern Bahr el Ghazal state has appealed for support in maintaining children whose parents abandoned them due to poverty in Aweil town. Samuel Gerang Kur is a church leader in Aweil, he says his church is accommodating and feeding 15 children whom they found abandoned by their parents. or their guardians, due to economic hardships in the country.

There are fifteen children hosted by the Lighthouse Church in Aweil, South Sudan, and most of them were found left in public places like the market and nearby schools by unknown parents/guardians. He says they were 3 when they first started but the number grown to 15 now. Their ages range from 1-4 years which makes it difficult to express themselves or explain who their families are. They don’t know their home’s locations, few can identify themselves, but others can’t talk.

A special interview on their sustainability was carried out with a church leader and this was what the Church leader had to say; 

So many young children abandoned in South Sudan.

“Some of these kids are ranging from one to four years of ages and were found at different intervals either on streets, schools or sometimes in market. We had to collect them one by one and brought them to our church on humanity basis despite lacking funding for them.” Kur explains.

According to Kur, these children have been kept by his church since July 2020 and have been getting some basic needs from the church management. They sleep on floor in the church with local made mats each night. The church gathers for them feeding and basic health needs from offerings the congregations give every Sunday.

“Maintaining these children has been very difficult. We’re using the little funds we get from our generous congregations who contribute something for them every Sunday to provide for their survival and sustainability on things like healthcare, feeding and clothing.” Kur further narrates.

Children gathered at Lighthouse Church

 The church is located on outskirt of town in Riang-aluelweeng, 10km of Aweil town, and is managed by another faith-based organization known as Christ Mission to the World (CMW). The church management begs for an immediate support from good Samaritan (s), in intervening for funding of other extensive support to the young ones in up-keeping and intensive care.

According to the reports from the police, the kids might have been abandoned by their parents because of no feeding from their homes or due to unintended pregnancies from their biological parents.

In South Sudan, abortion and dumping of a child is punishable by law which warrants not less than 10 years imprisonment.

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Global Orphan Relief has provided limited support for these children since August, however, their needs surpass funding available. A single home and care supplies now needed exceeds $7,000. What is needed to receive each child to provide clothes, a home, bed & mattress, and other one-time necessities is $500. There are approximately fifty more children currently living on the streets of Aweil.

Thanks to all of our funding partners we have supported these 15 children through the end of 2020. We are grateful that you have allowed the Father to be His hands and feet in this situation. You simple act of obedience has been life-saving for so many, and be praying for these children as we hope that we can provide more of them a place of comfort and safety in 2021.

Today we currently feed 2,113 vulnerable children in South Sudan. You may send support or other correspondence to Global Orphan Relief, 16352 Prairie Farm Cir, Parker, CO 80134 or you may give electronically to support the nutrition initiative to feed vulnerable children at 2020 South Sudan Nutrition.

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