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
