Sudan Trip Report
New Community Project Learning Tour
January 2009

Our 13-person January 8-26 Learning Tour visited the communities of Nimule and Narus along the southern tier of Sudan . Flying into Kampala, Uganda, we left the next morning for Sudan . Arriving too late at the border, we took the one room available at a local motel (five slept there), and the rest of us slept either on the bus or on the floor of the TV room. Early the next morning, we were at the head of the line to cross over into Sudan , discovering that our connection with Father Mawa of the Diocese of Torit in Nimule allowed us to enter without paying a visa fee.

Nimule

Our hosts in Nimule were the Girl-Child Education and Development Association and the Diocese of Torit (we stayed at their compound). While there, we met with several women's groups from Nimule and nearby Pageri, schoolchildren who have received scholarships from Give a Girl a Chance, and the GEDA team. We also visited Paskwale Ben's reforestation program by the banks of the Nile and another large farm-like site a distance away that Paskwale has been given to develop. And at the end of our trip, we were able to join dozens of Sudanese in watching the Obama inauguration at a nearby community center.

Narus

After several days in Nimule, we made a two-day trek by private vehicle to Narus, a 14-hour drive (on return, we took a quite challenging "short-cut" that allowed us to make the trip in about 13 hours on one day). In Narus, we were hosted by Gladys Mannanyu of the Sudan Council of Churches. We joined in worship at the local Catholic church, met with various women's and community groups, visited two schools where NCP has helped fund tree-planting projects, and visited a Toposa village (the dominant ethnic group in the area), where we were given a goat on departure.  

2009 Program Support

NCP has committed just over $40,000 for programs in Nimule ($10,000-girls' education, $4500-sanitary products for girls, $6000-women's development, $14,000-Paskwale's reforestation efforts, $4000-administration/transportation, etc.). In Narus, we have pledged up to $8000 for women's groups' tailoring and literacy projects, girls' education, school tree planting, and gardening projects.

As you can see, this is a significant level of assistance, so any help from you or groups in which you are involved would be appreciated. Great Vacation Bible School or church camp project! (Promo materials available.)  

Papula Paper

On our return to Kampala at the end of our trip, we met with four representatives of Papula Paper, a Fair Trade organization located at the Equator--and whom we met last February after missing our flight home. Papula works at giving opportunities to those at the margins of Ugandan society--single mothers, handicapped folks, and others. Their paper products are made from sustainable materials--plant residue, recycled paper. They had been seeking other outlets for their products, as they had limited traffic at their retail site on the Equator. NCP was open to partnership with a Fair Trade organization--voila! Over the past year, we have purchased around $1500 worth of their products--equal to several months' worth of typical retail sales. We had a very good meeting with them; they were very grateful for our partnership and look forward to its continued development. We'd be happy to send you a consignment of products for sale at your church, place of work, etc.

Solidarity Workers

For the third summer in a row, NCP will enable young people to spend the summer in Nimule, Sudan as volunteers. The group will be put to work in a variety of ways, including assisting in schools, at the reforestation site, and with women's programming. At this point, there are five people signed up to go--we are open to one or two more.

Closing thoughts

On more than one occasion on this recent trip as we rode for hours over yet another dusty, tortuous road, rationing out water, clinging to our seats, I found myself thinking, "what could be worth this?" Only to arrive in yet another community or compound where smiling faces, food and (clean) water, and often a song of welcome awaited us. We go to Sudan to meet with our partners, to visit projects, to experience Africa —yes. But we also go to be renewed by the hope and hospitality of a people who have little reason to offer either, save for their faith and resilience and indomitable spirit.