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Greetings!
WELCOME to the 2nd issue of the Mercy Beyond Borders monthly eNewsletter, and thank you for your continued support. You have no doubt read about last month's expulsion of most aid groups from Sudan by its President Omar al-Bashir immediately after the International Criminal Court indicted him for crimes against humanity (stemming from the ongoing genocide in Darfur). Bashir's edict greatly increases the suffering of the Sudanese people. It does not, however, affect the work of Mercy Beyond Borders. First, the expulsion was directed at agencies working in the West, North and East of Sudan, whereas MBB is working in the South. Second, MBB works in an inconspicuous manner. MBB partners with trusted local Sudanese organizations, strengthening them and their capacity to support displaced women and girls. We find this method to be very effective. Our flagship project is the education of the 850 girls at St Bakhita school. Below you will find the story of one student, Raila, who is poised to graduate from 12th grade this year. What a difference YOU have made in her life by your donations to MBB!
 St Bakhita girls maimed/orphaned by the war, yet hopeful of their future thanks to donors like you! | |
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Raila Wants to be a Doctor
We know that educating girls is the single most effective way to raise a family's income, reduce the number of children per family, improve their health status, and increase their children's chances of success in school. Mercy Beyond Borders is part of making this happen in Sudan. Since 2008 Mercy Beyond Borders has been supporting the education of 850 girls at St Bakhita Girls School in Narus, Southern Sudan. Specifically, MBB is providing funds to improve teacher retention, to expand the small herd of goats kept at the school, and to provide essentials for the girls like sanitary supplies.
 Here we profile one of the graduatess of St. Bakhita primary school, Raila Philip (as interviewed by Sister Kathleen at the school).
"I send greetings to any and all who may read about me and my family.
I am a 19-year old girl, currently a Senior in St. Bakhita Secondary School. I graduated from St. Bakhita Primary School four years ago and am still a boarder there. Both the primary and the secondary school students live in the same buildings on the primary school grounds.
I am from the village of Kerker in the distant Nuba Mountains of South Sudan. My mother tongue is Tira, the language of the Nuba; I also speak Arabic and English and am learning KiSwahili now. My father, Philip, was killed in the war with the North in 1995 when I was 5 years old. My mother, Cecilia, became ill and died in 2003 while I was away at school. I was 13 at that time. I have one brother, Joseph, age 30, who still lives in the Nuba Mountains and works for the Catholic Church and another brother, Difala, age 13, who still lives in Kakuma Refugee Camp in Kenya. My sister, Teresa, age 20, lives with me and is also a Senior here at school.
When our village was invaded and burned, many people were killed. The U.N. representatives who came afterwards to give aid encouraged my siblings and me to leave our village because it was so dangerous. The youngest three of us agreed to flee to Kakuma Refugee Camp in Northern Kenya while our brother, Joseph, remained with our mother. We were all very little at the time. Later, when we told our uncle that what we wanted most was a good education, he said he would arrange for us two girls to go to school at St. Bakhita's in Narus, Sudan. My uncle did not have enough money to send our brother Difala to school and he was too young to go at that time, anyway. Uncle wanted us to pursue schooling all the way to university so we could return to our land and help our people. Personally, I dream about becoming a doctor because there is such a great need for doctors in the Nuba Mountains and all throughout South Sudan.
When my parents were alive and we all lived at home, we grew our own vegetables: sorghum, simsim seeds (sesame), pumpkins (squash), ground nuts (peanuts) and greens. Before the war we had cattle and sheep but the insurgents took them from us. Our family is Catholic and my father used to be a catechist for the Church in our village.
Education means everything to me now. It is the most important goal for my country, too. How can we rebuild if our citizens remain uneducated? Of course, the health needs are next. When I am a doctor I will serve our people and perhaps even help to build a hospital."
Raila Philip, Student
St Bakhita School
As promising students like Raila graduate from St. Bakhita High School, Mercy Beyond Borders wants to help them to pursue their dreams-by providing individual scholarships that will enable these young women to attend college and/or vocational training schools. Whereas this would have been only a pipedream for any Sudanese girl just a few years ago, it is now a very real possibility for those who finish 12th grade with high marks.
You can be part of this momentous change in their lives. Consider donating today to Mercy Beyond Borders. $100 keeps a young Sudanese girl in school for an entire year.
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Mercy High School Raises $10K
Never underestimate the power of a woman! Just as orphaned Raila set high goals for herself, the faculty and students at Mercy High School in Middletown CT challenged themselves this year to learn more about extreme poverty as it affects women and girls in Sudan. The entire student body studied Sudanese cultures, foods, history, and peoples and then engaged in a flurry of spirited fund-raising. In one unbelievable week, the Mercy High girls raised $10,025 USD (more than quadrupling their original goal of $2,500) for their sisters at St. Bakhita School. The Hartford CT Courant carried a detailed article about the whole experience.
Mercy Beyond Borders applauds the amazing efforts of Mercy High School, Middletown, and invites schools across the country to partner with MBB for their own Service Learning or Spirit Week activities each year. Contact Sister Marilyn at mercybeyondborders@yahoo.com for how you too can be part of this. |
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| This Flowing Toward Me
 Looking for a good book that is at once entertaining and inspiring, yet thought-provoking? Sr Marilyn Lacey has chronicled her 25 years of living and working with refugees in the memoir, THIS FLOWING TOWARD ME: A Story of God Arriving in Strangers. Read the reviews on Amazon.com; read the book and decide for yourself!
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MERCY BEYOND BORDERS was founded in 2008 by three colleagues-- a Sister of Mercy, a university professor, and a medical doctor--determined to improve the lives of displaced women and children living in extreme poverty. We are a 501(c)(3) registered in California and committed to linking U.S. resources with displaced women & children overseas. We are currently targeting Southern Sudan, which has one-quarter of the world's displaced peoples.
Sincerely,
Sister Marilyn Lacey
Mercy Beyond Borders
Donations to support the work of Mercy Beyond Borders can be made online by clicking on th button below or sent to Mercy Beyond Borders, 1885 De La Cruz Blvd #101, Santa Clara CA 95050-3000.
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