What Does it Look Like to Serve the Most Vulnerable? . . .An Update from Terekeka, South Sudan

Today’s message includes some good news during this Advent season. In the midst of the darkness of this year of pandemic, God is doing a new thing!

AN UPDATE FROM TEREKEKA, SOUTH SUDAN

Participants in a literacy and financial education program in Terekeka, South Sudan

Please enjoy this update from our newest program, in the Terekeka region of South Sudan. It's been a long challenging year, but they've managed to:

  • Mobilize 16 communities

  • Sensitize clergy

  • Train new trainers on Literacy, Savings Group formation & management, business skills, and trauma-healing (during lockdown, socially distanced)

  • Identify and train seven Community Facilitators on Literacy, Savings Group formation & management, and business skills

  • Form seven Literacy groups and complete baseline surveys for each group


SHOCKING STATISTICS

Some shocking statistics emerged from the baseline survey of participants, showing how tremendous the needs are:

Travel in Terekeka, South Sudan is difficult with unpaved roads subject to seasonal flooding.

  • Only eight percent of female participants can read in their mother tongue (compared to the national average of 27%)

  • 0% of female or male participants report having an income-generation activity/business

  • 0% have ever been trained on business skills

  • 0% have a bank account; the nearest bank is 90 miles away in the capital of Juba

  • 5% have a working radio in their homes, indicating a high level of isolation.

The leaders traveled through some rough 'roads' to reach the communities. This certainly indicates that together we are reaching people living in extreme poverty in the Diocese of Terekeka, in communities beyond the end of the road.

Until next Monday morning,

Dale Stanton-Hoyle,
Executive Director