MODULE South Sudan S PEACE, LOVE AND LIFE Hope and Challenges in South Sudan RONGOMAU, AROHA ME TE ORANGA Ngā wāwata me ngā wero o Hūtāne ki te Tonga May the God of peace arouse in all an authentic desire for dialogue and reconciliation. Violence cannot be overcome with violence. Violence is overcome with peace. — POPE FRANCIS MODULE South Sudan S main menu 3 Background Information 3 Fact Sheets 3 Story Summaries 3 Video Summaries 3 Y1-2 Lessons and Worksheets 3 Y3-4 Lessons and Worksheets 3 Y5-6 Lessons and Worksheets 3 Y7-8 Lessons and Worksheets 3 Y9-11 Lessons and Worksheets 3 Y12-13 Lessons and Worksheets BACKGROUND INFORMATION USING THE MODULE This education module has been designed to integrate with the Lent module for 2019. Teachers and students are encouraged to use the Lent module for the first and last weeks of Lent. This country module focused on South Sudan can be used throughout Lent with four lessons provided at each learning level. MODULE S: SOUTH SUDAN As a Stand-alone Unit This module can also be used by teachers and students as a separate unit outside of Lent. Lessons from other levels can be easily adapted to provide a range of relevant activities for students across all levels. ONLINE RESOURCES AND CURRICULUM LINKS All resources referred to in the lessons (including worksheets and videos) can be accessed at www. caritas.org.nz. All relevant Religious Education achievement objectives can be found within the Teacher Booklet and other related curriculum links for an integrated unit can be found online at the same address above. This booklet also provides a good summary of the various elements available online and how they can be used together. Students sing at St Theresa’s Primary School in Torit. Photo: Crispin Anderlini Cover image: A boy cradles his little sister in a displaced persons camp in Agok. Photo: Caritas Internationalis CARITAS AOTEAROA NEW ZEALAND PEACE, LOVE AND LIFE: HOPE AND CHALLENGES IN SOUTH SUDAN BACKGROUND INFORMATION resources overview LENT ACTION LENT PLAN POSTER MODULE S: SOUTH SUDAN TEACHER BOOKLET SOUTH PICTURE LENT SUDAN PACK MODULE MODULE 26 PRAYER VIDEOS BOOKLET KOHA BOXES 14 THE WAY OF POWER THE CROSS POINTS POWERPOINT ACHIEVEMENT STANDARD AS90822 CARITAS AOTEAROA NEW ZEALAND PEACE, LOVE AND LIFE: HOPE AND CHALLENGES IN SOUTH SUDAN BACKGROUND INFORMATION Country Profile: South Sudan Background: On 9th July 2011, South Sudan gained independence from Sudan following a peace agreement in 2005 and a subsequent referendum ending one of Africa's longest-running civil wars. South Sudan is one of the most diverse countries in Africa, made up of the 32 southern-most states of Sudan. Home to over 64 different major ethnic groups, there are a range of religions practised in South Sudan, including traditional religions (around 34%), Christianity (around 60%) and Islam (around 6%). There are over 64 MODULE S: SOUTH SUDAN indigenous languages spoken but the official language of the country is English which was introduced in the region during the colonial era. Independence for South Sudan did not bring peace as hoped. Civil war erupted in 2013 following a power struggle between the president, Salva Kiir Mayardit, and his Vice President, Riek Machar. Since then, over four million people have been displaced and face daily challenges caused by this conflict and other factors such as food insecurity. A power-sharing agreement was signed between the warring parties in August 2018 in a bid to bring the five-year civil war to an end.1 Population: Approx. 13 million Area: 619,745 sq. km Languages: English and Arabic (both official), Juba Arabic, plus vero 64 indigenous languages (including Dinka, Nuer, Bari and Zande, the most widely spoken) Major religions: Traditional religions and Christianity Currency: South Sudanese Pound ($1NZD is worth around £90SSP) Capital City: Juba Economy: The sale of oil accounts for 97% of government revenue Leader: President Salva Kiir Mayardit (since 2011) Date of independence: 9 July 2011 Flag and map: 1 www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-14069082 Source: CIA Factbook and World Bank Data CARITAS AOTEAROA NEW ZEALAND PEACE, LOVE AND LIFE: HOPE AND CHALLENGES IN SOUTH SUDAN BACKGROUND INFORMATION Life in South Sudan The Republic of South Sudan is Africa’s newest nation. It was formed in 2011, when 99% of South Sudanese voted to split from the northern territory of Sudan in a referendum. South Sudan consists of 32 states with a population of approximately 13 million people.2 It is ethnically very diverse with up to 60 different ethnic groups, the largest of which are the Dinka, Nuer and Shilluk peoples. Two years after independence was declared, fighting MODULE S: SOUTH SUDAN broke out in South Sudan between government troops and rebel factions. Initially the fighting was between Dinka followers of President Salva Kiir Mayardit and Nuer supporters of Vice President Riek Machar. But, since 2013, the violence escalated to a point that there were up to 40 militia groups fighting for control of different regions of South Sudan. In June and early July 2018, peace talks between the main parties took place in Ethiopia and Khartoum. As a result of the talks, a permanent ceasefire was declared with a powersharing agreement reinstating Riek Machar as one of five vice presidents. Many middle level governors and religious leaders are promoting long term peace. At the grass-roots level, many South Sudanese have had enough of the violence, and just want their leaders to make peace. Since the start of the conflict, almost two million people have been internally displaced, and another two million have sought refuge in neighbouring countries, with one million in Uganda alone. More than 230,000 people are sheltering in six United Nations (UN) bases in towns across the country. Famine was declared in conflict-affected areas in the first half of 2017. Although a concerted aid effort has averted mass starvation, the people of South Sudan are still incredibly vulnerable, with 70% of the population living in severe poverty. A family sits outside in the shade preparing food for their meal. US State Department, 2016 population estimate, www.state.gov/documents/organization/268942.pdf CARITAS AOTEAROA NEW ZEALAND PEACE, LOVE AND LIFE: HOPE AND CHALLENGES IN SOUTH SUDAN BACKGROUND INFORMATION Caritas in Action Caritas organisations work across South Sudan prioritising the most vulnerable and delivering the most essential emergency food and water. Where security allows, Caritas workers distribute seeds and tools so that communities can grow their own crops for food or to sell in local markets as a form of livelihood. Typically, food distribution packages include sorghum, maize, beans, cooking oil, sugar and salt which provide the basic nutrients required for subsistence. The livelihood packages contain hoes, rakes, watering cans, and weeding tools, as well as seeds for people to grow sorghum, maize, okra, tomatoes and kale which provide more choice for a better diet. Where people were displaced by the conflict, MODULE S: SOUTH SUDAN Caritas organisations also distributed non-food items such as tarpaulins, mosquito nets and sleeping mats. In addition to distributing items, Caritas works with church and community leaders, women’s groups and in schools to promote peace. In 2017, a famine was officially declared in parts of the country. Whilst the famine was only officially declared in a couple of states, most of the rest of the country was classified as being in “Crisis” or “Emergency”. Although there are now no areas declared as in a famine state, the actual number of people facing acute food insecurity rose to approximately 6 million people Children eat sorghum porridge. (half of the population) in September 2018. Of great concern to Caritas is the 2.1 million acutely malnourished women and children, and the 1.76 million internally displaced people. The situation would be much worse if not for the support of humanitarian organisations. Caritas provides ongoing support aimed at helping more than 480,000 people in different parts of the country. Caritas works in co-ordination with other organisations and the United Nations to minimise duplication of services and to ensure there are no gaps in the provision of assistance. The ongoing and unpredictable conflict can make it People move around in Don Bosco camp in Gumbo. difficult to provide humanitarian assistance due to insecurity, and this is sometimes made worse by the poor road network which is often washed out by heavy rains during the rainy season. Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand partners with Caritas South Sudan in the seven dioceses that cover the country. Each diocese has a humanitarian co-ordinator who manages the programme based on the specific local needs. Caritas South Sudan was founded in 2011 and is the official organisation of the Catholic Bishops of South Sudan under the South Sudan Catholic Bishops’ Secretariat. The main office is in Juba and has a staff of around nine employees. Francis Ojoadi is one of the humanitarian co-ordinators of Caritas South Sudan. While his own family are living in a refugee camp in Uganda, Francis is working with displaced people in Gumbo camp. Caritas will continue to provide essential assistance, and we need to be strong to support those who are less fortunate than us… People need to look past their tribal affiliations and see themselves as South Sudanese. Only then can real independence come. — FRANCIS OJOADI Francis Ojoadi takes time to smile. CARITAS AOTEAROA NEW ZEALAND PEACE, LOVE AND LIFE: HOPE AND CHALLENGES IN SOUTH SUDAN BACKGROUND INFORMATION Caritas South Sudan NEWEST CARITAS MEMBER Caritas South Sudan (CSS) was formed in 2011 and is the newest member of the Caritas Internationalis network.