What does it mean to be Sustainable and Resilient?
Several years ago Five Talents sponsored a successful women's savings group in Malakal, a city in the far northeast corner of South Sudan.
Sadly, the area was devastated by civil war, and the entire community fled in distress.
The women lost loved ones and were forced to leave virtually everything behind. Eventually they were resettled in an displaced person's area outside of Juba. But they didn't give up. . .
The women who had been in the savings group, found one another, and on their own initiative re-convened and started saving. In a short time they were able to pool their few resources to start very small businesses serving their new community. Today this group of twelve women use their business proceeds to feed and support their eighty children and dependents.
When I think of resilience, I think of the women of Malakal. Their faith and determination inspire me.
Today as we celebrate the life of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., a great hero of civil rights and social justice, I pray that you may also be inspired.
Until next Monday morning,
Dale Stanton-Hoyle,
Executive Director