Significant Impact

Three weeks of the Solidarity with South Sudan (SSS) teacher training in-service programmes have now been completed in Malakal and Yambio and two weeks in each of Leer and Rumbek. SSS staff are training teachers in four out of the ten South Sudan Statesbut are accepting residential students from all States. In one of the four States, Western Equatoria, SSS is also developing an agricultural programme (at Riimenze) which helpsprovide food for the 40 students in residence, and the 55 day students, in Yambio. In a fifth State, the SSS registered nurse training and mid-wifery programmes have resumed. In the capital, Juba, in Central Equatoria, a sixth State in which we are based, SSS pastoral programmes and our South Sudan central administration are located.

Recently it was pleasing to meet an Australian delegation in Juba, led by Sudanese-born Australian, George Meat Pietch who is soon to be ordained as a married deacon in Australia. He was accompanied by Fr Tony Feeney, a Melbourne parish priest, and Br Michael Lynch, a Salesian, on their mission to set up a well-resourced Catholic school in Bentieu, the birthplace of George. I later met George again in Malakal when he visited hiswife’s family. George, who is from the Nuer tribe, was not accompanied on this trip byhis Shilluk wife, who remained in Australia to care for their six children.

In recent months, we have welcomed several new members to our long-term residentteam delivering teacher training: Sisters Carolyn Buhs and Sally Frommelt from the USAand Sr Margo Delaney from Ireland. We also have seven volunteers working with us in teacher training: Sr Yvonne Pothier from Canada, here for a second visit, this time for almost 12 months; Sr Antonine Meleady from Canada on her third visit, this time for almost six months; and five other volunteers for just over two months, Brothers DavidZande and Geoff Kennewell from Australia, along with their lay compatriots, TerryFarrell, Henry Corcoran and Michael Watty. Two further volunteers are from the Volunteer Mission Movement in Ireland: Rob Beesley here to manage the agricultural project and Julie Orr assisting with financial administration and accountability.

If the above seems like a lot of names, be aware that I have not mentioned the three permanent members of our Juba community, the three in Riimenze, three in Yambio, sixin Malakal and seven in Wau. But I shall mention Fr John Barth, a Maryknoll priest fromthe USA, who is a very welcome recent addition to the team in Wau. A Kenyan Irish Christian Brother, Brother Julias Oluoch, is an addtional long-term staff member butresides in his congregational community in Yambio rather than an SSS community. Herein South Sudan, we currently total 22 ‘permanent’ staff and 9 volunteers on shorter placements. Two additional long-term religious are soon to join our Solidarity Teacher Training College (STTC) team: Sr Sandra Amado a Comboni Sister from Brazil and Br Joseph Alak from South Sudan. Sandra has been working in Juba for almost five yearsalready and Br Joseph was raised in Juba before joining the De La Salle Christian Brotherswhen living in Cairo. Their familiarity with Sudanese culture will be of great assistance toour mission.

My principal focus is teacher training. I am pleased to report that, with the great assistance of the volunteer extra tutors and three hired South Sudanese teachers, our STTC tutors are currently delivering in-service training to 290 teachers of whom 65 are women. Yes we would like to see a much higher percentage of women but given that there are only 400 female students in the final year of secondary education in the whole of South Sudan, the figures are understandable. A UNESCO report published in July 2011 stated:

Today, a young girl in South Sudan is three times more likely to die in pregnancy or childbirth than to reach grade 8.

I know SSS is making a significant impact. So far we have only taken a few important stepsdown a long road but it is the right road. That is what matters. – Br Bill