Sudan Christian School for Orphans in Gospel Village

About Sudan: South Sudan was devastated during Sudan's 20-year civil war, when the government's Muslim militia destroyed 3,900 families, burning their churches and schools and destroying the cattle and crops that were their livelihood. This was part of a campaign to eliminate black non-Muslims from the country.

School Profile: Sudan Christian School for Orphans (SCSO) in Gospel Village, Sudan aims to provide a basic education and religious discipline to children displaced by the war. The war ended in 2003 when a cease-fire was called and refugees are now returning to rebuild their villages. Adult "Lost Boys", or refugee children, are helping with this Orphan School Project.

Rev. Matthew Riak is one of the Lost Boys who received a sponsorship to live in the U.S. He is now president of the Sudan Evangelism Ministry (SEM), which is partnering with organizations like WWCS to fund SCSO. "Restoration and resettlement of the original homes is now happening with the support of the international community and the U.S. government," said Riak. "Basic health facilities have been established... and the school [now has] seven classes."

SCSO is growing quickly. The reason for this rapid growth is that people are being forced to return to their homeland from refugee camps in surrounding countries such as Kenya and Uganda.  Returning refugee children will need a safe environment in which to pick up the pieces of their lives and prepare for their futures through education.

The current budget for the project is $41,000 over a span of three years. So far $20,000 has been raised. The school will use these funds to work toward sustainability and to fund improvement and expansion projects such as an intermediate school. Currently the students are meeting in a traditional hut, but SCSO is working to fund the construction of a more permanent concrete building. The materials have been purchased but the school is waiting for funds to cover the engineering and construction fees. Riak is worried the materials will be damaged by weather if they continue to sit unused.

We want to create God-fearing communities in [our area]," said Riak. "We should be supporting our brothers and sisters in Christ...We must stand with them."

Please consider how you can contribute to the ministry of SCSO in Sudan.

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