South Kordofan
Our colleague Saudi from the TfS office in Khartoum visited Kadugli in late December and reports that he found TfS watchman Nazar still on duty despite the looting of our office. No usable equipment remains in the building. Our two colleagues visited the landlord who promised to do general maintenance but all equipment will need to be replaced. Meanwhile, Kadugli remains tense and during Saudi’s visit to the local Commissioner, TfS was asked to move our upcoming Eye Care Outreach to Talodi – to which some 2,000 people from other areas of South Kordofan have fled seeking safety in recent months. The local Humanitarian Affairs Commission has lost most partners in UN agencies and international organizations. And it was not possible for Saudi to check on the more than 20 solar lighting panels, most in unstable areas, which TfS had recently set up on schools and clinics.
Women attending a literacy class run by Together for
Sudan
Khartoum
A recent grant from the British Embassy in Khartoum will allow us to train 35 literacy teachers in the Khartoum area. The majority of these will be women, several of whom we hope will be able to set up literacy classes. It seems a miracle, given our present financial crisis, but four of our eight projects continue to function, including University Scholarships for Women, Vocational Training, Women’s Literacy classes and Eye Care Outreach. However, funding needs urgently to be replenished if we are to continue to support education for Sudanese women in both Sudan and South Sudan.
South Sudan
Victor, a former TfS colleague in Khartoum, now represents TfS in Juba and faces the difficult task of helping TfS sponsored university scholars who have left the north for South Sudan. Unfortunately, Juba University, the only major source of university training in town, has delayed its opening for the current year. Meanwhile, charity work continues to become more expensive in South Sudan. Juba is now one of the world’s most expensive places to live due to the need to import just about everything. Moreover, corruption is wide spread. Together for Sudan faces an uphill battle but remains determined to do what we can to educate the women of South Sudan. Your support is much appreciated.
A Final Thought
Educated women are the most needed commodity in modern Sudan! Women are more likely than men to educate children, more likely for the sake of their children to reconcile with people of other tribes, and traditionally less likely to think that war and violence are useful ways to achieve anything. Let’s hear it for the Mamas of South Sudan! And let’s reach out to help them.
Lillian Craig Harris