South Sudan | Marketplace Variables

South Sudan | Marketplace Variables

by Global Orphan Relief Team

Beyond the growing need in South Sudan, there are several other elements that we are left to tackle as they emerge. These issues are beyond our control and we are most often in a reactionary mode rather than hedging in advance against these outside factors.

In addition to the ‘lean season’ that we will experience in South Sudan over the next three to four months, we are now in the process of weathering exchange rate fluctuations that are not in our favor, and increased commodity prices.

Currency & Pricing Data for Aweil, South Sudan, where we currently feed over 2,600 vulnerable children:

Our field partner in South Sudan, Christ Mission to the World, had voiced their concerns about their diminished buying power based on recent currency fluctuations earlier this month. As you can see from the reference above, most all commodity prices are up over last year as well, creating a complex formula in which the children we serve receive less food when we deploy the same resources.

Combine currency and pricing challenges with the situation on the ground in South Sudan, and it is difficult to garner hope for an improved situation for the people. Consider what UNICEF published earlier this month:

At Global Orphan Relief, we remain committed to the children in South Sudan, however, this commitment can only go as far as our funding partners provide for. We are confident that as more people become aware of the challenges for vulnerable children in South Sudan they will decide to be part of the investment in their future.

Over 900 vulnerable children at Adoor Basic School receive a meal each day.

We are efficiently provisioning nutrition to over 2,600 vulnerable children in South Sudan today, and we expect this number to grow to 3,200 children in the coming month. With the marketplace challenges outlined above, along with increasing needs in the field, we are experiencing headwinds to deploy the needed resources. If you are not already contributing to this effort please consider doing so today. If you are already part of our movement, thank you, but please go out of your way to tell friends and family about the needs in South Sudan. We will need 100’s of new funding partners in the coming months to provide for all of the needs at the three schools in which we serve meals.

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School children receiving their meals.

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.  In June we will serve 3,299 children in DR Congo, India, Pakistan, Kenya, South Sudan, and Zambia within our Home-based Care, Nutrition, and Scholarship Initiatives.    

Local Volunteers preparing meals for the children.

In the first five months of 2021 we have experienced a dramatic increase in the number of children coming to our partner schools to receive meals. In 2021 we have provided an estimated 261,300 meals impacting 2,613 children. The scale of this initiative has grown by more than 200% -when compared to 2020 when we served an estimated 85,160 meals to 852 vulnerable children.

As outlined, there are many challenges in South Sudan. Education is also facing enormous challenges with the lack of qualified teachers and little funding to effectively operate local schools. Most schools lack basic requirements like classrooms, toilets, food, and clean drinking water.

Plans for 2021 is to provide nutrition to more vulnerable children in the Aweil area as they are experiencing near-famine conditions. In cooperation with multiple partners (Kids for the Kingdom & Christ Mission to the World), we have developed three school sites (Adoor, Beliek, & Luethwek) with infrastructure over the last 6-months by investing $126,200 during this time for kitchens, storerooms, latrines, water, and classrooms.

Today we serve these precious children with our partner Christ Mission to the World who are the hands and feet on the ground, and through this partnership we will serve more than 52,920 meals at three village schools in the Aweil area this month. With the scarcity of food in the coming months, we do expect to exceed 3,200 children that will be receiving meals in the coming months.

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 the feeding of vulnerable children at 2021 South Sudan Nutrition.   

Movement of FAITH   |   Voice of HOPE   |   Act of LOVE

 Global Orphan Relief (GO!) is a Christian relief agency serving vulnerable children and is a recognized U.S. public charity, tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3). All donations to GO!, or any charitable contribution processed through Network For Good Donor Advised Fund, are tax deductible to the extent of the law. If you prefer, you may provide gifts of support by sending via mail to the address above. For your convenience you may also give electronically at our website at GLOBAL ORPHAN RELIEF.