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Chronicles of Hope
Holiday Edition
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December 2010
| Vol. 2., Issue 3
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Dear Friends of PES,
As the New Year approaches and the season of giving is upon us, we want to thank you for your continuing support. Without your generous donations this past year we could not have built a much needed dormitory for the only all girls' boarding school in the region, two classrooms at one of only four secondary schools in the state, partnered with CARE international to provide pit latrines for the second of four secondary schools and provided supplemental school supply funding and teacher in-service training. We don't have celebrity, book, or movie contract support (yet!), but we do have you incredible volunteers, partners and donors who are our outstanding "Stars"! Ralph and Trish Nagel generously jumpstarted our year end giving campaign by donating $20,000. We would love to match this amount through your generous contributions this holiday season. They children of Sudan need your continued support now more than ever as they move into establishing a new nation this January.
"A few years ago, I wasn't attending school because there was no school for girls in my village. Now I go to the Ayak Anguei Girls' School. We can all safely stay in the school compound and spend time on our studies instead of fetching water, cooking, grinding grain, and caring for siblings. If I am educated, I can inspire my future daughters to go to school." Grace Adeng Deng, Honor Student, Ayak Anguei Girls' Primary School
We are going back to South Sudan in February. You can help us take our next steps:
- Build a girl's dormitory at Jonglei Hope Academy opening in January
- Provide 104 girls with bunk beds and bedding at Ayak Anguei Girls' Primary to keep them in school and prevent early arranged marriages
- Build teacher/head master/library buildings at Pagook Secondary and Ayak Primary Schools
"We wanted to fund a well. The dollars we donated went directly in the ground. What I like about PES is there is very little overhead. They don't spend their dollars trying to raise more dollars. 80-90 cents on the dollar benefits the specific project you're contributing to". Dave Hunter, CEO Financial Designs, Ltd.
Consider gifting a donation in honor of a loved one this holiday season. You can make an online donation by clicking here. Your tax deductible donation will continue to create hope for over 3,000 children in a country where only 33% of children ages 7-14 go to school. (UNICEF)
To a season of peace, promise, and hope,
 
Carol Francis-Rinehart Daniel Majok Gai
Executive Director Sudan Program Director |
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Launching PES's biggest fundraising effort yet! Joe Rogers, inspired by the Lost Boys' Journey, climbs the highest peaks of Colorado to raise awareness and reach their $100,000 goal.
Become a sponsor and read more about their inspiring journey!
www.climbforsudan.org |
Editorial Staff:
Courtney Cohen
Editor-in-Chief
Staff Writer
Meera Rawat
Managing Editor
Visit Our Sponsor
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Tuesday, December 7, 2010 6:30-9:00 Women+Film is partnering with Facing History and Ourselves to present A Small Act as part of Facing History's national series of Community Conversations. PES is one of the community partners for this free event. Seating is limited. To RSVP, visit facinghistory.org/communityconversations or call (303) 316-4848 ext. 237
We hope you join us to view this inspiring film of a woman oppressed in Nazi Germany and the powerful impact she made on one young man's life.
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Climb for Sudan Reaches Great Heights
by Courtney Cohen |
"With every step, the Climb for Sudan honors  the "Lost Boys of Sudan" who struggled through a 1,000 mile journey to safety."
Joe Rogers, the founder of Climb for Sudan, an endeavor where three men will climb all fifty-four 14,000 foot peaks in Colorado July 2nd-September 9, 2011, aims to raise money and awareness for Project Education Sudan (PES). Joe and climbing partners Nick and Ray have built a strong friendship on a shared love for the outdoors, extreme sports, and adventure. Although this climb will be the most challenging any of them have ever faced, Joe has over six years of experience under his belt to help guide him through it. He has traveled and climbed extensively throughout the western United States.
Joe was drawn to PES because he found the organization to be accountable, hardworking and truly a miracle for communities in southern Sudan. He hopes the climb will bring people together to address the needs of over 3,000 children. Joe truly believes education is an opportunity that should be available to everyone across the globe and is dedicated to making that belief a reality.
Although Joe admits the venture will be mentally and physically grueling, he cannot wait for the challenge. Climb for Sudan is well on its way to achieving its monetary goals, and has already raised $17,500. Joe is challenging all of you to help us reach the goal of $100,000 for the construction of three PES school projects. Climb for Sudan will garner support from corporations, businesses, schools and individuals locally and nationally. Learn how to become a sponsor by calling PES at (303) 316-4528.
Joe is hoping to summit Mt. Kilimanjaro in 2012 and the peaks of Southern Sudan in 2013 - his wish is to continue his philanthropic efforts. For this year, there will be plenty of challenges, but the team will not shy away from the task - they know the results will be worth every minute of it. Like Joe says, "Go big or go home." Join the "Lost Boys", corporate and business sponsors, schools, and eager climbing novices at Mt. Bierstadt for the media Public Climb launch day on July 2, 2011!www.climbforsudan.org
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Contact Us
www.projecteducationsudan.org
P.O. Box 6851
Denver, Colorado 80206
(303) 316-4528
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PES "Lost Boy" Daniel Gai: Juba Leadership Opportunity
by Courtney Cohen |
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Daniel Majok Gai, newly appointed Sudan Program Director for PES, has recently returned from Juba University in South Sudan where he was selected by Denver based Leadership Institute of New Sudan (LIONS), Ballard Pritchett, Executive Director, to attend their Sudan leadership development program. Last year, Josef Korbel School of International Studies (JKSIS) held its first Sudanese leadership program with Sudanese Americans, Canadians and Sudanese nationals. LIONS and PES are partners at JKSIS, African Initiatives Program, where they will collaborate on a Sudan community leadership pilot implemented by PES in the three villages they are working with.
PES long time supporters Ralph and Trish Nagel havegenerously funded Daniel's leadership development and his PES Sudan Program Director position for 2011-2012. Daniel will be sent to Sudan for one year to work in conjunction with PES Sudan Field Coordinator Panther Kelei to oversee and monitor PES projects on the ground.
Despite the long journey to Sudan and the brief time he was able to spend with friends and family, Daniel reports that he found the program to be an incredible lifetime experience. He met amazing people and learned invaluable skills which he is eager to put to use. Initially, Daniel was apprehensive to work with a group of strangers who had differing personal, tribal and political views. But by the end of the week they had connected over common goals and were all calling each other brother and sister. Daniel is sure the relationships he made in Juba will create a network beneficial to Project Education Sudan's goals in the future.
The leadership program course content included four components: Leadership, Democracy, Economic Development and PTSD  management. Candidates must pass three courses, write personal essays, demonstrate comprehensive knowledge of Sudanese history, speak English, and have clear goals, objectives and values. Daniel's biggest hope is to see the Sudanese people prosper, and he believes he can be an emerging leader for his country's development.
Daniel has already begun to form connections with other professors at the University of Juba. He hopes these partnerships will allow students in the PES school communities a chance to continue their education at the university level. The highlights of his leadership program included creating a team from a group of strangers, working together to share resources, building a community, and creating a peaceful environment.
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Daniel has been working with PES since 2007 searching for ways to improve conditions in his home land. In 2008, PES reunited him with his family after twenty years, and he has joined the PES board of directors as a way to continue to give back. As for Daniel's future, he is looking forward to the remaining two leadership courses; "I love it," Daniel says, "I just always want to know more about effective leadership!" This leadership program opportunity will help him in his leadership role as PES Sudan Field Director. Congratulations Daniel!
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