Students at the Manute Bol School in Turalei, South Sudan
Sudan Sunrise executive director Tom Prichard, and deputy director Kody Kness recently returned from travel to South Sudan. While in South Sudan, Tom and Kody traveled with Sudan Sunrise project director Daniel Kuot to Turalei in the state of Warrap to review progress on the Manute Bol School, and the construction of a new kitchen. Next, they traveled to Torit in the state of Eastern Equatoria to prepare for the building of a reconciliation church. They also met with U.S. and South Sudanese government officials and diplomats in the capitol city of Juba, which represented a positive step towards further collaboration.
The Manute Bol School in Turalei currently serves over 375 students, but until now has lacked a permanent kitchen. The recent donation of $20,000 by the Washington, DC-based Darfur Interfaith Network has launched the construction of the new kitchen. While visiting the Manute Bol school, Sudan Sunrise met with the project director, Victor Majok, to discuss the progress of the students and the immediate needs of the school. In addition, they recieved a breifing from the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) State Cordinator for Warrap State on the current security status for Turalei, and the Maunte Bol School.
Muslims from Darfur and Khartoum have pledged to build a reconciliation church in the state of Eastern Equitoria. Sudan Sunrise met with Johnson Akio who is the Bishop of Torit and local government officials, including the Minister of Education, and the Secretary General to discuss a potential project. Sudan Sunrise also met in Juba with the Country Representative for Catholic Relief Services (CRS) in South Sudan, and the Episcopal Archbishop, Reverend Daniel Deng Bul regarding a reconciliation church project.
Sudan Sunrise held meetings with both U.S. and South Sudanese governemnt officials, including at the U.S. Embassy with both the mission director, and deputy mission director of the USAID mission in South Sudan to discuss education and reconciliation initiatives taking place across the country, and with Ambassador Deng Deng Nhial, former Deputy Head of Mission of the Government of Southern Sudan Mission to the U.S., to discuss future Sudan Sunrise projects.