Henry Okumu, our Director in Africa, sent me a note this week from Boma, South Sudan that I wanted to share with you. Boma, South Sudan: A Year in Review encouraged me and I hope it does the same for you as well.
Boma, South Sudan: A Year in Review
2015 has been a year of tremendous achievements at the Boma Project. Nearly all of the activities planned for the year were fully implemented, and important lessons learned from the challenges that were faced. Here are just a few of the accomplishments you helped us complete.
- At Faith Learning Centre all the damages that had been caused by the 2013 armed conflict were fixed: broken walls repaired. Also, new doors and windows were fitted and replaced.
- School children were fed a healthy meal each day using much of the produce we grew in Boma this year.
- 60 new desks made so the students did not have to sit on the floor to learn.
- Two of the tukuls in the SEA Partners compound were repaired and will provide better housing for our staff and guests.
- The container’s floor has been repaired and a new grains’ storeroom has been built to increase our ability to store the agriculture products after harvest.
- We planted two ten-acre plots of maize and beans: the first in April and the second one in October. In October, we also managed to introduce sweet potatoes and cassava as additional food crops. Also, goat keeping and chicken rearing was introduced.
The one overriding motive behind all these initiatives in Boma South Sudan is to build the capacity of the local community through demonstration effect as well as imparting of skills and better methods/practices to enable them take charge of their own food production and eliminate hunger.
The bakery facility which had broken down during the armed conflict was repaired and a pilot phase of bread making done in September. The commercial phase could not be launched because the unusually long drought and hunger that hit Boma, South Sudan between June and September was driving many people away from Boma and at the same time caused uncertainty about the market for bread. Many of the local people were returning to refugee camps in Ethiopia where they hoped to survive on UN food aid. We intend to restart this in January 2016 when the staff returns from holiday.
We thank the Lord God for all that has been done in Boma this past year after the conflict. Going forward, we look to Him to continue and expand His work in Boma to accomplish His will for the people of Boma. May you all be blessed abundantly as you allow yourself to be part of this good work.
Henry Okumu,
African Director
Final Thoughts
Every day in the news we are reminded of the problems and challenges facing those of us who live in the West. In the United States we are in the middle of an election and the big issues include the refugee crisis, border control, terrorism, and gun control. South Sudan can seem so far away from our daily thoughts and prayers. I can attest firsthand, that parents in Boma, South Sudan are primarily concerned with daily survival. Will they have enough food to feed their children? Will their children get a good education so they can be better off than their parents? Does anyone care about their struggles living in this remote place of Boma?
I visit Boma 2-3 times per year and I often tell them that there are people that do care and that they give generously to help them. A large portion of our funding is given in the month of December and if you would like to support the people of Boma, South Sudan please consider a gift to help us continue this important work. As you can see from this update, the funds are put to good use and the people are blessed by your gifts.
May God grant you a Merry Christmas! Thank you for all your prayers and support. God is using you in a mighty way.
Donnie Brake, Ed.D.
President