Help Southern Sudan
Posted by Jim | July 9, 2009 | No Comments
The Second Sudanese Civil War, lasting more than twenty years and killing an estimated two million people in Sudan before a peace accord was reached in 2005, is not as well-known as the more recent conflict in Darfur, Sudan. But the effects of the war are still being felt throughout southern Sudan. One of the most heart-wrenching aspects of the war were the nearly 27,000 boys orphaned or separated from their parents, known as the “Lost Boys of Sudan.” Many of the Lost Boys traveled hundreds or even thousands of miles by foot to escape to refugee camps in neighboring countries, with little hope of seeing their families or their homeland again. The award-winning 2006 documentary God Grew Tired of Us
tells the story of a few of the Lost Boys selected to relocate to the United States. One of the Boys featured in the film, John Dau, not only adapted to this new culture, but also excelled, putting himself through school and earning a college degree. Determined to make a difference, John then focused his attention on helping the people of southern Sudan, both in American and in his homeland.
In a country with a population of an estimated 11 million, there is only one trained doctor for every 100,000 people.
The John Dau Sudan Foundation works to build and support medical clinics and health care programs throughout southern Sudan. One clinic has already been built, and serves an estimated 20,000 patients. Still, the health care needs of the region remain critical. I highly recommend renting God Grew Tired of Us and checking out the foundation’s web site to learn more.
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