NUBA NEWS 2018
Dr Tom Catena and Sr Angelina Nyakuru cms
Message from Cathy and Nicole
Once again Nuba News comes to you with grateful hearts for your faithful support through your prayer, interest and generous donations.
The peace agreement between the Khartoum Government and the Sudanese In this Issue: Peoples’ Liberation Army (SPLA) is still holding. For two years classes have not been interrupted by threatening overhead Antonovs loaded with bombs and MiG-jets ready to fire their missiles into villages, markets and schools. Current Situation Students have been able to learn within a more peaceful, stable environment. What Page 3 blessing that is!
Dr Tom and Sr Angelina pictured above are longstanding supporters of education. They encourage the nurses, lab assistants and other Mother of Mercy Hospital D-Lights, bring delight! personnel to complete their secondary education and to continue their studies as far as possible. Sr Angelina often says, ‘It is important that our people have the best Page 5 chances possible and it is education that offers choice and more opportunities. I have seen that the students from the DoE/BGRRF schools who apply for jobs at our hospital have a solid foundation and are even more capable than those who have returned from Kenya and South Sudan.’ Supporting Govt. Schools... Page 13 As you turn the pages of stories and pictures you will get a glimpse into how YOUR support, assistance and encouragement have materialised into practical ordinary mercy action. Dammit do it!
From soccer and footballs to new books, from new classrooms to subsidising female Nuba Calendar 2019 students’ fees, from caring for neglected children to hearing the aspirations and Page 19 commitment of student teachers… and more… you will see how you have contributed generously to firing people’s hearts and instilling further hope. Contents
Item Page
Current Situation 3
Iliya’s Story: Supporting some of our vulnerable children 3
Stocking the text book supply in Agok 4
Abyei 5
D-Lights, bring delight! 5
Sponsoring trainee teachers at the SDC - CTTI in Kauda 6 - 7
When you are educated you can rule yourself 8 - 9
Building and Equipping Yida Refugee Camp Nursery School 9 - 10
Sr Polli and the Comboni Sisters say ‘thanks’ 10
Promoting girl child education and subsidising school fees for the poorest students 10
Volleyball, football, netball and soccer – sport makes me happy, refreshes 11 - 12 my mind, keeps me fit
Supporting Government Schools: Capacity Building 13
Graduates do us proud! How your past donations have borne fruit... 14
A determined woman - Mary John 15
Her laughter is loud and joyous - Sahada 15
Equipping the New Women’s Centre: Kauda Parish 16
Sabbatical/Renewal Program for Priests and Brothers 17
Dr Tom Catena 17
Supporting the Pastoral Communities in Sudan and South Sudan 18
Keeping our Children Safe 18
Nuba Calendar - 2019 19 - 20
Acronyms
BGRRF - DoE = Bishop Gassis Relief and Rescue Foundation - Diocese of El Obeid SDC - CTTI = Saint Daniel Comboni Catechists and Teachers Training Insitute SPLA / M - N = Sudanese People’s Liberation Army / Movement - North
2 Current Situation
It is remarkable that not one bomb has been dropped or a missile has been fired from a MiG jet in our part of the Nuba Mountains since June 2016.
There have been several ceasefires in that time that have given respite to the men, women and children who live in these remote parts. However, the consequences of the protracted crisis are still being felt.
Malnutrition in children and adults has recently been documented at alarming rates. Lack of vaccines for suc- cessive years, for example, resulted in a recent measles outbreak that caused thousands to die and many more to be hospitalised. Entire village communities that were internally displaced because of intensive bomb- ing campaigns yearn to return to their villages to rebuild their homes, farm their own lands and be self-sustain- ing as they had been for hundreds of years before the wars.
There is a deep desire to believe in a permanent peace but trust has been betrayed so often that men young and old are still forcibly conscripted to train to be soldiers. Women are pressurised to keep bearing more children to be future soldiers even though they struggle alone to feed and look after the children they already have.
The people feel great solidarity knowing that we are praying for them. Let us continue to pray that the fragile peace that currently exists will become a permanent reality. Only then will greater strides be made to securing their rights to quality health services, education, safe shelter and all the other essential items needed to live a life with dignity.
Iliya
Iliya is about nine years of age. He was found hiding in the grass by some children walking along the dirt track. They wondered what he was doing; was he looking after goats? The children told him to come out of the grass and go over to Hadiya who was passing.
Hadiya, is not only the ‘best cook’ in the Nuba mountains, but is also affectionately known as Mamma as she is a listener and encourager to many students and members of the local community.
The young boy came forward as urged and said his name was Iliya. When Hadiya asked about his parents he said, ‘My father is in Khartoum and my mother had problems with my father so she went home to her family.’ When questioned about siblings, Iliya answered, ‘My sister is married and has gone far from here. My brother is in another village but he cannot care for me.’
Hadiya asked lliya if he would like to come to Kauda with her. ‘Yes’, he replied. The children standing around urged him to take the chance.
Hadiya noticed a big cut in Iliya’s head so took him off to the hospital for medical treatment. She was unable to discover how Iliya’s head got cut. Hadiya took Iliya in just as he was – a frightened little boy, alone, a cut in his head; no clothes, no shoes, no food, no one nearby to care for him.
Isaac, our faithful, hardworking education storekeeper, heard about Iliya’s situation. He cut some material from the roll so that clothes could be made for him by the school tailor.
Hadiya continued to make further inquiries about Iliya. She found his older brother who verified the where- abouts of their parents and their sister. He begged Hadiya to continue caring for Iliya.
Hadiya enrolled Iliya in pre-unit in the local school.
3 Iliya does not talk a lot. He is a quiet little boy. Sometimes Hadiya just watches him sitting quietly seemingly ‘far away’. She wonders what is going on in his mind. Is he remembering his parents; his sister, his brother…what?
Iliya is not the only child Hadiya has taken in. She cares for her own brother’s three children as he can no longer support them after being wounded in the war and having one leg amputated.
Other children also just ‘drop into’ Hadiya’s house as they pass by, while others come and stay when there is a crisis in their family.
‘Everyone has a job. We are all Little Red Hen.’
If you visit Hadiya after school, you will see what she means; some children are looking after the goats, others are feeding the pigs, while others are fetching water and helping to prepare the evening meal.
After supper Hadiya spreads out the marsharma (strong plastic cover) on the ground. The children go to sleep early so they can be rested and ready to be at school for the first bell at 7.30 am. Bedtime
Stocking the text book supply in Agok, South Sudan
Teachers and students from Saint Daniel Comboni Second- ary school, Agok, South Sudan are proudly holding some of the new text books.
Thank you for your donations that bought a very large box of new text books for these teachers and students.
Walking into the Agok, South Sudan school compound of close to 4,000 students was awe-inspiring.
Three schools share the one compound: Saint Daniel Com- boni Primary School, Juoljok, Saint Daniel Comboni Primary Fr Biong and Teachers School, Abyei, and Saint Daniel Comboni Secondary School, Agok. Sixty plus teachers and numerous support staff keep the compound ticking.
War attacks in 2011 and again in 2013 razed Abyei to the ground making it impossible for families to continue to live there. The primary school was relocated to Agok.
Because of uncertainty about a sustainable peace even now in 2018, parents are choosing to continue to remain in Agok so that their children’s education will not be disrupted.
Teachers, Fr Biong and Students
4 Abyei D-lites, bring delight!
Gracious aged 23 and Suwad aged 21 are in form three at St Joseph the Worker Secondary School, Gidel.
Their “old” ages are testament to the common reality of so many youths in the Nuba: their education being interrupted for months, and even years at a time because of living in a war zone.
The multi-million dollar UN Peace-Keeping Compound, Abyei Gracious says,
Nicole visited Abyei with Father Biong who lived through the harrowing conflicts in 2011 and 2013. Going to school is impor- tant for me because I get His stories are haunting. He showed her around the priests‘ knowledge. compound. Everything was damaged. Rubble was still every- Many times I had to stop school. In a where. normal, peaceful country I would have finished my university education but Anything that could be dismantled from buildings was taken here I am still struggling to complete – wash basins, windows, doors, iron sheets, statues, cross- my secondary education. es, all manner of goods. Knowledge helps me to improve my The main store house was pitted with gun fire and grenades. life and to become a better person. Biong pointed to a lone tree, ‘many body parts I collected from the compound are buried there.’ I am learning to think more about my life and about life here in the Nuba The trauma and devastation of those years quickly touched Mountains. ‘the rawness’ Biong held within him.
The UN has hundreds of Peace Keeping staff in Abyei. Their presence is often a source of great tension. Suwad adds,
It is reported that more staff remain within the compound because of the volatility rather than patrolling the area. For me, going to school is also important. It is already changing my life. I am thinking about what I am doing, what I want to do with my life.
With education I can change my living.
I can help my people have a better way of understanding life and solving problems.
Both young women beamed when I showed them the D-lite solar powered torches. ‘We can now study at night! Thank you.’ Burial place for body parts found in the compound There are 458 students registered at
5 St Joseph’s Secondary School, Forms 1-4, 246 males and 212 females. The number of female students is steadily increasing year by year! Alleluia!
Parents want their children to go to school because they know it will help their children to have a better life and help them, as parents, to also have a better life. ‘Many parents are happy to pay school fees,’ says Gracious, ‘But some parents get annoyed if their children are not performing. Of course they do not want to continue paying fees. Their children can just stay at home and nothing will change for them.’
Suwad and Gracious thank people who are supporting Nuba education and are praying for them. ‘The support encourages us and makes us strong.’
Gracious and Suwad delighted with the D-lites
Sponsoring trainee teachers at the SDC - CTTI in Kauda
For over fifteen years the Diocese of El Obeid (DoE)/BGRRF education program depended heavily on con- tracting expatriate teachers from Kenya and Uganda to help provide a high-quality primary and secondary education program for its approximately 3,000 students in the Nuba Mountains.
The average number over recent years was 36 expatriates but from the start of 2018 there are now only eleven expatriates, five for St Joseph’s Secondary School and two for Lugi Public School.
Two other expatriate teachers are contracted as lecturers at the St Daniel Comboni Catechists and Teachers Training Institute in Kauda (SDC-CTTI) and two as Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) teach- ers for the fledgling nursery school that was started in Yida Refugee Camp in 2017.
Whilst this may seem to be a “loss” in reality it highlights the remarkable success that has been achieved through the training of capable local Nuba women and men at the SDC-CTTI.
Sister Mary Cecilia, Precious Blood Sister, is the current Principal and is assisted by Mr Harrison and Madam Lilian both from Kenya.
In 2017 a special Early Childhood Development Education program was established. We all acknowledge that a sound education start in pre-unit class helps children perform better in their later years.
6 The SDC-CTTI was officially opened in February 2011 but operated fewer than 4 months because of the renewed conflict and bombings from Khartoum from 6th June. In 2012 Sr Cathy Solano returned to the Nuba Mountains and reopened the SDC-CTTI.
While the numbers that have graduated are not large, the quality and commitment of these locally-trained teachers is inspiring. The following table summarises the number of graduates to the end of 2018:
Month/Year Graduate/Group Males Females Total
1 Jun 2014 S1 Group - two years F/T study 12 0 12
2 Jun 2015 P1 Group - three years F/T study 9 7 16
3 Dec 2017 S2 Group - two years F/T study 10 2 12
4 Jun 2018 P2 Group - three years F/T study 20 6 26
5 Dec 2018 E1 Group - 2.5 years F/T study 2 18 20
Totals 53 Males 33 Females 88
Additionally, the deployment of these graduates has made an impact in several schools in the Nuba Mountains, some in distant places where they originally came from such as Nyakuma, Hajar Baco and Undo.
In order to help sustain and motivate these locally trained teachers it is absolutely vital to be able to offer them a just salary (approximately $2,500 per graduate/year) for the work they do in their community schools.
This is especially necessary now that the support of the expatriate teachers is not there and so much responsibility falls on the shoulders of these national teachers.
Ms Nahala Omar, graduate of SDC-CTTI from 2015 and the class teacher for pre- unit in St Vincent Ferrer PS Kauda Fok
7 When you are educated you can rule yourself In April Nicole met with five CTTI students while they were on teaching practice. We get a glimpse of their thoughts about education.
Sabit reflects
‘What led me to be a teacher is that I have seen many things. My people are marginalized. Teaching in the schools will help the young learners to be a ‘new generation’, an educated generation. My people are marginalized because they have no education.
I am learning to be a teacher to help create a new generation; a generation of educated people. When you are educated you can rule yourself. The Nuba people have been in the situation of being dominated for long because they did not have the chance for education.’
Ardisham adds
‘I have decided to be in school in order for me to have the knowledge and to help my Nuba people be- cause they are still ‘behind’. We Nuba people are still suffering because we have no peace. We do not know how to get peace.
That is why I should get the knowledge to help my community to be able to think in a new way. We want to develop and talk and trade with other countries.’
Wedad continues
‘I am enjoying being at CTTI because my people are still not educated. Many of our leaders are not well educated.
That is why we are marginalised. I want to help the new generation. In Nuba Mountains we still do not have enough local teachers.
If people are not educated they will continue to suffer – our leaders in the future will be better educated to lead the people well.’
Sabit, Ardisham, Wedad, Joseph and Khalid are trainee teachers at the Joseph adds his thoughts CTTI who will graduate in June 2018
‘In the first place I came to CTTI because I wanted to be a teacher so that I may go and help the com- munity, especially the young children to teach them how to prevent themselves from getting diseases. Education is the only way to save people from ignorance.
In the Nuba Mountains some people are still taking dirty water. I want to stop this continuing. Also as a teacher, I would like to teach the young generation so that they might know more farming skills. In that way there will be more crops and food for the community.’
Khalid shares
‘ First and foremost I would like to thank all the benefactors specially the Sisters of Mercy, the Comboni Sisters and the Precious Blood Sisters who have all made an effort to support us in a variety of ways to
8 be educated and have a better life.
Being in the P2 class at CTTI has been big for me. I have experienced love from different communities in the world for Nuba Mountains. If it wasn’t for this love we would not have the chance to have an educa- tion. I have chosen to be a teacher for many reasons. I experienced bad things when I lived in Khartoum.
Though I was in my own country, the country was being controlled by Arab leadership. I decided to join school. I faced many challenges. While I felt I could pass my subjects the Arab teachers told me I could not pass because I am not an Arab. So it was impossible for me as a Nuba to pass. The Arab teachers challenged not only men this way but all Nuba people who wanted to learn. This was so painful to me. I felt that it should not be continued.
So I decided to be a teacher at CTTI. I wanted to teach the right thing to my own people. Because I know that my people can do it. The Arabs say the Nuba are not capable. My people can do like other people in the world. With the help of many donors I am able to study and I am ‘making it’.
With confidence I am sure I can help my people. What I have gained from CTTI is enough to help me help my community. The donors’ generosity has helped me to be educated and given me the hope and cour- age to support my people.’
Building and equipping Yida Refugee Camp Nursery School The Yida Refugee Camp in Unity State of South Sudan hosts up to 80,000 refugees from the Nuba Mountains and has never had enough nursery, primary and secondary schools to accommodate the thousands of children and youth who are there.
Fr Edward Minawe is a South Sudanese priest who is ministering to both the Nuba and local Dinka people and, since 2015, has requested BGRRF/DOE to open a school for the children.
His dream was finally realised at the start of 2017 (you may remember the story in Nuba News 2017) when two classes each of 75 pre-unit children were enrolled and two specialist Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) teachers were employed from Kenya.
The children and teachers began teaching in the chapel structure as their classroom, then moved to two temporary structures. This place was deemed unsatisfactory as it was near a main road, far from the BGRRF compound and too dusty and noisy.
Fr Edward has since negotiated with the local authorities and was given a large piece of land on which construction of 4 classrooms, a staffroom and kitchen began in February, 2018. Funds have been given from your donations to assist with some of the building of the new classrooms. Huge thanks.
(L - R) The new nursery school being built in Yida Refugee Camp, P1 & pre-unit children in their current “chapel” classroom
9 Sr Polli and the Comboni Sisters say ‘thanks’
My dear Nicole and Cathy
Hope you are fine, it’s a long time now, how you are and where you are now, you are still in my memory, hope you are fine. I truly want to say thank you for the donation from the Mercy Sisters and many other donors.
The donations of clothes and shoes have dressed many naked people here in Nuba Mountains. Thank you for these gifts you gave to the Comboni Sisters – Sr Angelina and Catherine and I say thanks for everything.
May God bless you.
Sr Pollicarp.
email Apr 26, 2018
Promoting girl child education and subsidising school fees for the poorest students
This year we have been able to assist a total of 448 students to continue their primary, secondary and tertiary education. By subsidising their school fees the pressure on parents is reduced and especially encourages female students to stay in school.
Out of the 448 students 376 are females. 212 are in Saint Joseph the Worker Secondary School, 33 are teacher trainees at the CTTI, 76 are in primary school and a further 55 are in their last year of primary school hoping to go to secondary school after passing their P8 examinations in November. The 72 males who have been helped were identified by their principals and teachers as being the neediest in the school.
The total money paid directly to the schools on their behalf was $7,680 US ($10,500 AUD). Parents and children greatly appreciate this support. Again, we have you our donors, to thank for this magnificent achievement.
10 Volleyball, football, netball and soccer - make me happy, refresh my mind, keep me fit
Thanks to our donor funds we have been able to purchase 106 real leather balls: 58 footballs, 24 netballs, 24 volleyballs and 12 inflating pumps from ‘Alive and Kicking’, Nairobi.
Every child needs a ball to play with. We have all probably seen photos of children from different parts of the world chasing a ball, kicking a ball, throwing a ball. Playing with a ball is a natural part of growing up.
The children and youth in the Nuba Mountains are no different from their brothers and sisters in other coun- tries as we can hear from their comments.
These real leather balls came from ‘Alive and Kicking’ (a Kenyan NGO that employs people who have AIDS) and has the logo: ‘Balls to make a difference!’
11 Abass -
‘I like playing football because when I am tired I play so that I become OK. Sometimes when I am not happy I play and this makes me happy again.’
Kuku -
‘Playing soccer makes me Khamis - stronger.’ ‘I just like running fast and kicking the football. ‘ Susanna -
‘I like playing netball because if my body is weak it becomes strong.’
Amani -
‘Netball helps my concentration.’
Daniela -
‘I like playing netball because it makes me refresh my mind.’
Adam -
‘Football helps me with team playing.’
Stephen -
‘Playing football is a source of income in the world. I want to be a footballer.’
Daud -
‘Volleyball keeps me fit.’
Chenni -
‘After school playing netball is a good way to be with my friends.’
12 Supporting Government Schools
Mr Mangasta Saeed, Mr Younan Alburout, Sister Caroline Nghoi
This year an opportunity to support Government Schools came our way.
Sister Caroline Nghoi, Mr Younan Alburout and Mr Mangasta Saeed participated in a number of Under- standing Safeguarding workshops. They agreed to conduct four such workshops for the Government Schools.
To date two have been completed. Sr Caroline reported that ‘the people were very happy to come and learn’.
‘Mr Younan, who is very aware of the challenges in the Nuba regarding abuse and exploitation of vulnerable children and adults, was a keen supporter of the team working with school staff. Safeguarding is a very important issue and we all have to work together.’
Funds from your donations have helped to support this initiative.
13 Graduates do us proud! How your past donations have borne fruit...
Education is being valued more and more in the Nuba Mountains.
The number of students registering in the BGRRF-DoE schools each year is a clear testimony to this strong developing reality.
Most parents want their children to have the opportunity to be educated. They want a better life for their children. Education is a concrete way for that ‘better life’ to be achieved.
BGRRF-DoE has supported the Nuba Community Schools with school materials for several years. Further, the staff from SDC-CTTI, Kauda, have developed good relationships with some nearby Nuba Community Schools and an agreement has been made for some students from CTTI to have Teaching Practice in a government school e.g. Smokin’ Model Primary School.
Furthermore, some staff from Nuba Community Schools requested to be included in the Professional Develop- ment Program that was under the authority of the BGRRF-DoE Education Coordinator e.g. Arat Model Primary School in 2017.
As a further way of offering assistance to Nuba Community Schools, BGRRF-DoE has been funded by Caritas Korea to set up a Mobile Capacity Building Team.
Graduates of CTTI, Khamis, Farha, Romia, Omar and Nahala jumped at the invitation to be part of this Mobile Capacity Building Team.
Their role was to offer 10 workshops to the local Government Schools.The team engaged in 7 training ses- sions focussed on how to prepare and run workshops so they can be offered to other schools.
While enthusiasm was never lacking it was hard work!
Clockwise from top: Romia, Farah, Nahala, Omar and Khamis making note’s, ‘Case studies for the Code of Conduct Workshop’, Summary of the first training sessions.
14 A determined woman - Mary John
Mary John is married to Kalo, a soldier who spends most of his days either on the frontline or in the barracks for further training. She rarely sees him and draws courage and hope from caring for their children as best she can and attending to her studies.
Mary and Kalo have two little girls, Kaka and Chichia. Mary lives in a borrowed house just outside the CTTI compound. Some of the local community are aware of her circumstances and share what they have when they can. She is a bright young woman with eager eyes and a great thirst for knowledge. She will com- plete her Early Childhood Development Education training at the end of 2018.
A relative has sent her 8 year old daughter to babysit Mary’s children while she attends classes. Complet- ing the ECDE training will allow Mary to be financially independent and able to provide for the children.
A soldier’s wage hardly exists. Daily food rations are about the best the Sudanese People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) can provide.
Your generosity has been shared with Mary. She has been given a donation to enable her to buy food and also to move into more permanent housing. Mary received your donation saying, ‘How can I repay this? It is too generous.’ Mary in the pink top participating in a Safeguarding Workshop
Her laughter is loud and joyous - Sahada
Sahada is ever on the go. She was encouraged to come to CTTI by her local Pastor. When Sahada did the entrance test her comment was, ‘If I pass, it is God’s will. If not, I will return and help the Pastor without the study.’
Needless to say Sahada is thriving in classes. She is a natural teacher and has a wonderful disposition with her peers and with children. Her laughter is loud and joyous.
This year Sahada’s mother was diagnosed with cancer and is being cared for in Mother of Mercy Hospital. On the weekends, Sahada returns to her village to care for her siblings and to visit her mother.
The Nuba are a very proud and independent people. They struggle on against many odds, taking it all in their stride.
I will never forget the huge smile that lit up Sahada’s face when she opened the envelope and saw your donation inside. Your gracious support will enable this young woman to buy her mother extra food.
The occasional meat and fruit that Sahada will buy from the local market will help her mum build up her resistance to infection and promote stamina.
15 Equipping the New Women’s Centre: Kauda Parish
It was heartening to see that the Women’s Centre was underway when we were in Kauda this year. The centre holds promise and hope for the women. There was an air of ‘many good things are going to happen here.’
A donation of US$1000 was given to this project for the initial building. Thank you for that wonderful support of our women.
Fr Christopher Konga the Parish Priest writes:
“The Women’s Centre idea came as a result of the many life challenges facing women in the Kauda location in the Nuba Mountains, majorly to mitigate against some of the myriad of problems facing women:
• poverty: which has been occasioned by prolonged war as the men are on the frontline. There are unreliable rainfall/periods of drought causing lack of food.
• many women are widowed after the deaths of their husbands in war, and many are left with an average 5 - 7 children to raise and this weighs heavily on the women.
• illiteracy: most of the adults in Nuba Mountains do not have formal education and,
• lack of opportunity for employment: the majority of women never had the chance to have an education and can never apply for the jobs that are sometimes available.
The Women’s Centre construction started in December 2017 and is still ongoing and we have seen the joy it has brought on the faces of the women around our locality.
We need to equip it with tables, chairs, cupboards, sewing machines, bolts of cloth and other materials to help the women become self-reliant through the literacy programs and income-generating projects we wish to begin.”
Wathching the Women’s Centre being built
16 Sabbatical / Renewal Program for Priests and Brothers
The majority of the diocesan and order priests and brothers have ministered in the field without having the opportunity for a sabbatical program to renew themselves spiritually, professionally and physically (Sisters have better opportunities through their congregations).
The demands of working in such hard, insecure and isolated areas takes its toll on the mental, physical and emotional being of any person and it is vital that the healers are themselves “healed” so they may continue to be healers for their people.
Fr Biong Stephen from South Sudan and Fr Daniel Tutu from the Nuba Mountains have been selected for a four-month program to be held at Chemchemi Fr Tutu and Fr Biong Institute in Nairobi from 6th August to 7th December.
Costs for them have been covered for this year from Australian donations. Many thanks for this generosity.
Fr Tutu, Sr Rena and Fr Biong
Dr Tom Catena
The Heart of Nuba (2016) - IMDb
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6255478/
In the war-torn Nuba Mountains of Sudan, Dr Tom Catena along with Sr Angelina, Sr Pollicarp, Nuba nurses, cleaners and some expats from Uganda and Kenya selflessly and courageously serve the needs of an oppressed and forgotten people.
Worth watching!
17 Supporting Pastoral Personnel
The presence of the sisters, brothers and priests in the ten parishes supported by BGRRF in the Nuba Moun- tains of Sudan and in Twic County of South Sudan is vital for the continuation of all the education, health and humanitarian projects being undertaken.
Whilst the religious personnel are not directly involved in all the program activities the support, supervision and spiritual encouragement they give to the expatriate and national staff is recognised and valued by the international donors sponsoring the works for the local communities.
However, the funding partners are rarely able to provide the financial support for the 34 pastoral personnel currently in the field. The funds required to cater for their basic needs (food, vehicle repairs and running costs, medical expenses, compound maintenance, travel and flight costs, etc) must be found separately and there continue to be many challenges for them as they try to minister to the children, men and women they desire to serve.
Living conditions are quite primitive, such as the lack of running water, a reliable source of electricity, erratic internet access and the vast distances that have to be travelled on rocky, sandy, boggy and unsealed roads.
To our donors who say to us, “Use this money wherever you think it is needed most” we say a heartfelt “THANKS” as this frees us to meet these ‘gaps’ and other urgent needs that arise and that confront our people on the ground in Sudan and South Sudan.
Keeping our children safe
A number of incidents came to our attention last year that highlighted the urgent need to raise awareness of safeguarding children and protecting vulnerable people.
In the areas where we have been working there are different understandings of what are appropriate and inappropriate behaviours around this issue. The cultural context in the Sudanese situation presents many challenges and cultural norms are increasingly being questioned. For example, for a fifteen year old girl to be married off to a sixty year old man as his fifth wife was a normal practice.Today there is more resistance.
A further example was provided when parents were shown a photo of girls carrying firewood on their heads. Many exclaimed:
‘These girls should be in school.’ ‘The firewood is too heavy.’ ‘One girl is not well clothed.’
These welcome comments happened within the context of a workshop about Understanding Safeguarding and prove that efforts in education over the last years are beginning to reap some benefits.
Recognising the Universal Rights of Children is making inroads into improving and strengthening practice.
Sadly the desperate situation of poverty of many families is fertile ground for children to continue to be exploited. Armani comes home with a tin of tuna, a bag of rice and a jar of oil. Her mother says, ‘Thank you for bringing these home,’ instead of asking, ‘Who gave you these things and what did you have to do to get these things?’
In such a situation our hearts are wrenched open. What mother would not want to give her family a treat for supper?
There are too many other examples where men, women and children are being abused and exploited.
This year concerted efforts have been made to target these problems by conducting workshops with local people on the ground.
18 2019 Calendar
The Nuba calendar for 2019 “Everyone’s Responsibility” will be available from the beginning of November.
If you would like to put in an order please see details below.
Thank you for your generous support of the education ministry in the Nuba Mountains, Sudan.
Payment details for Nuba Calendar 2019
Calendar Price $10.00
Direct Deposit
1. Payment can be made directly into the account below
ISMAPNG BSB 083-781 ACCOUNT 653 084 010
Reference: Your Surname/Nuba
2. If you pay directly into the above account please would you also send an email to: [email protected]
Please copy and paste the box below into your email and then fill in the details.
Should you have a difficulty please contact Nicole email: [email protected]
Thanks for taking the trouble to take this extra step. It ensures that your deposit goes into the correct ISMAPNG Account and it means Cathy and I can acknowledge your support.
Your Name: ______
Date of Deposit: ______
No of Calendars: ______
Postage - see table below $ ______
Total $ ______
Your email ______
Postal Details
Name: ______
Number and Street: ______
Suburb: ______
Post code: ______
19 2019 Calendar
If you would prefer to write a cheque
1. Please make your cheque payable to ISMAPNG and post to:
ISMAPNG PO Box 5067 Alphington Vic 3078
2. Please complete the box below and include it with your cheque. It ensures that your deposit goes into the correct ISMAPNG Account and it means Cathy and I can acknowledge your support.
Thank you.
No of Calendars: ______
Postage - see table below $ ______
Total $ ______
Your email ______
Postal Details
Name: ______
Number and Street: ______
Suburb: ______
Post code: ______
Please use the table below to calculate postage. Many thanks.
Postage
Number of Calendars Postage Cost
2 $ 5.00 8 $ 15.00 16 $ 25.00
20