South Sudan Schools | Big Trees
South Sudan Schools | Big Trees
By Scott Nordstrom
I was honored to visit South Sudan in 2019 and had the opportunity to visit two of the three schools that we support today within our Nutrition Initiative. Things have improved since this time with the additions of kitchens, storerooms, and latrines, but there is much yet to be done.
We are blessed to have Thiik-awet on the ground in Aweil. He reports back to us regarding the activities at these three locations, and also helps us ascertain the impact that our partnership with Christ Mission to the World is having on the children of South Sudan. I was in the process of reviewing some of the content that has provided us this month and ran across the following video. I could not help but share this with you and offer some additional commentary.
There is a lot to notice in this scene, but one is the number of children crowded into one space. I think that there are two things that come into play here; one, there are a limited number of benches, and two, the children want to be in a good position to see the chalk board that is leaned up against the tree.
In addition, you will notice that they are outside. This is the case for all of the students and classes at Luethwek as they attend classes under the big trees. This is the only shelter from either the rain or the scorching sun.
As you might imagine, weather conditions can provide challenges for the student body. At Adoor Village, there has been a good-size church recently built where some of the classes have the benefit to meet. At Beliek, there is a village church that can provide substandard shelter for only a few of the classes. And at Luethwek, there is only the big trees. In all of these locations, a vast majority of the classes/students meet under big trees.
These conditions provide a less than optimum environment for over 3,000 students that attend these three village schools, but again, things are improving. We have not only been providing food over the last five plus years, but infrastructure is being added. The last item on the development roadmap for these village schools at Adoor, Beliek, and Luthwek are the actual classrooms.
Please be praying that we are able to secure a partner to provide these schools, or that we are able to somehow secure the funding needed to build these schools in the years to come.
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We have served in South Sudan since 2016, and have provided an estimated 455,840 meals impacting 3,162 vulnerable children in South Sudan in 2021. The scale of this initiative has grown by over 4 times since our launch in 2016, and this growth is driven by the near-famine conditions and other socio-economic challenges in this country.
In cooperation with multiple partners, Kids for the Kingdom & Christ Mission to the World, we have invested in these three school sites with additional infrastructure over the last 12-months by investing $126,200 for clean water, kitchens, storerooms, and latrines. We are thankful for these partners that make this work possible. Working together more children receive meals with larger portions, and the Kingdom of God continues to advance in South Sudan!
Global Orphan Relief (GO) has been serving orphaned children since 2005. We have accomplished this work to date through local partners in each country that provides oversight and distribution of care.
Scott Nordstrom leads GO! today and was a co-founder when we launched in 2005. Scott has served with GO! for 16-years and has been responsible in deploying 160 volunteers on 25 teams to the mission field. He has personally served in DR Congo, India, Kenya, Mexico, Nepal, South Sudan, and Zambia since 2005. Scott has also spoke in the United States, as well as, internationally regarding child welfare and matters of faith, hope, and love.
You may send support or other correspondence to Global Orphan Relief, 16352 Prairie Farm Cir, Parker, CO 80134 or you may give also give electronically to support children in South Sudan at 2021 South Sudan Nutrition or 2021 Home-based Care.
Movement of FAITH | Voice of HOPE | Act of LOVE
Global Orphan Relief is a Christian relief agency serving Orphans in need and a recognized U.S. public charity, tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3). All donations are tax deductible to the extent of the law.