Help Raise $6000 US for a Corn Grinding Mill and a Manual Brick-Making Machine!
South Sudan is the worlds youngest country, founded in July of 2011. After more than three decades of war, it's 11 million citizens now struggle to rebuild families, communities, and infrastructure. With an emerging economy, government programs don’t fully cover the populations needs. Adults struggle to support themselves while also building viable communities to serve their families.
Children Arise is working in Kejo-Keji county immediately north of the Uganda border. The people here are generally hard working and the land is rich. Arise is engaged with a specic village called Wotakujong. In conjunction with leaders there, Arise has documented the needs and vision of local citizens and has agreed to walk with them in community development. Rather than assisting a specific group within this area, Arise will employ a new strategy. We have agreed to walk with community leaders, providing tools to help them achieve their own community goals over time.
After meeting with more than 20 Wotakujong leaders, the community vision for itself seems well thought out. Leaders explained their goals, answered our questions, and communicated well verbally as well as in writing. This little community of perhaps 1200 people wants to focus on education as a means of improving the prospects of their own children, but also to distinguish their community from others and provide an industry for their people.
One important feature that has distinguished Wotakujong to Arise staff was their expectation that they must be their own solution. These people have established community goals, mobilized their people into work parties, and are moving toward their goals as they are able. While Wotakujong is a self-motivated community, there are however specific ways western individuals can help. Wotakujong leadership has identified two tools that would enable them to save time and to generate funds for further development.
The first tool is a Corn grinder. Corn is a staple food item for Africans and in the South Sudanese society it is often used in trade for school or other fees. Today, the people of Wotakujong walk 21 kilometers round trip with heavey sacks of Corn on their heads to have it ground into Maize flour. A local grinding machine would save time and effort, but may also provide an opportunity as a social business to generate funds for the community.
The second tool is a manual brick-making machine. Normally Africans
use mud bricks which are often baked to improve their durability.
Manufacturing bricks in this manner takes time and the Wotakujong
leaders feel the process will have a negative impact on their
environment.
A brick-making machine would accelerate the process
of creating bricks for school buildings, but would also allow for
other building to be built after that.
Wotakujong leaders see these tools as opportunities to achieve the communities immediate goals, but also as a way to generate funds for other purposes such as paying teachers.
In either situation, Wotakujong leaders are not asking outsiders to provide buildings or solutions for their community. They are looking for partners to assist them with tools so that they need to do this work themselves. They are planning for their needs today and wisely considering solutions that could have a positive impact on community resources longer-term.
Children Arise and our partners wish to raise at least $6000 US. These funds will be used to purchase a grinding machine to process Corn into Maize flour right in Wotakujong, as well as a manual brick-making machine so that locals can begin construction of their first community school building. Implementation of both tools will be accompanied by business plans to help local leaders ensure these tools can be used wisely.
Perhaps you are able to partner with Children Arise and assist families in Wotakujong South Sudan to develop their community. Your investment (small or large) will make a significant difference to life in this village. While most of the population has never known peace, it’s awesome that we can help them build an effective community where children will thrive.
Please partner with us!
You are able to donate immediately using PayPal or your Credit Card right here on this page.
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Canadian supporters can also donate through Children Arise and recieve a tax reciept. To donate through Children Arise ONLINE HERE or by sending your cheque to the following address:
Wotakujong South Sudan Project
Children Arise
6021 West Saanich Road
Victoria, BC, Canada
V9E-2G4
