GO! | Nutrition Initiative | Aweil, South Sudan
September 14, 2021
By Scott Nordstrom
Much has happened with our partnership with Christ Mission to the World over the course of 12-months. The number of children we serve in South Sudan will peak this month with a projected 3,293 children being served, however, 1,849 of these children are part of a temporary measure to address seasonal medical needs with medicines being distributed this month.
The ‘recalibration’ that many of you have heard me refer to in the last month or so, involves Kids for the Kingdom working with us to address the nutritional needs of the children that do not qualify as orphaned. This process has reduced the number of children that we are responsible for feeding in South Sudan under this program by more than half. Before we made this adjustment, it was critically important for us to have the nutritional needs of 1,838 vulnerable children met in come way.
More children now at school learning because the receive a meal that is much needed.
What continues to occur in South Sudan is near-famine conditions that are increasing the costs of staple foods in the country. In addition, with funding of the World Food Program down by donor nations, food supplies and distribution within South Sudan has been altered when compared to prior years. This has caused prices to increase which applies pressure to where and at what level we may provide aid.
Experts suggest that upwards of 7.2 million people in South Sudan are facing high levels of acute food insecurity. The challenges experienced by orphan children are amplified without caring parents or an advocate within the home in which they may live.
Our partner in Aweil has received some children that are severely malnourished, but they have been able to nurse these children back to health. While many children have been received at the feeding centers which stretches supplies and decreases portion-sizes, some children in need have been turned away due to limited resources. I have been quite impressed with what the community teams in Adoor, Beliek, and Lueth-wek have accomplished for these children in managing their resources efficiently to reach the maximum number of children in need.
Lunch is served every day, five days a week.
For us to continue to grow this initiative we will need additional funding partners involved. We project to invest $73,000 to feed children in South Sudan in 2021, and we expect to run a deficit of $32,000 for the year in this initiative when considering the support we project to receive. In addition, increased costs will drive up the per child investment needed each month to provide the necessary nutrition for the children.
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In the first eight months of this year we have provided an estimated 377,500 meals impacting 3,162 children. The scale of this initiative has grown by 2.2x when compared to 2020 when we served an estimated 135,180 meals to 1,552 vulnerable children. We have served an estimated 1.4 million meals to vulnerable children in South Sudan since 2016, serving alongside our partner Christ Mission to the World (CMW).
In cooperation with multiple partners (Kids for the Kingdom & Christ Mission to the World), we have invested in these school sites with additional infrastructure over the last 6-months by investing $126,200 during this time for water, kitchens, storerooms, and latrines. We are thankful for these partners that make this work possible. Working together more children will receive meals, with larger portions, and the Kingdom of God will continue to advance 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 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 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.