Bishop of the Bush an inspiration
Children in their school at Yei, South Sudan. (Photo Manoocher Deghati AngliCORD)
AngliCORD’s CEO Greg Thompson recently visited Sudan and says that even after decades of experienc he was ‘deeply affected by the challenges facing people in southern Sudan, and the local churches who play such a vital role of leadership in community life there’.
‘The lack of the most basic infrastructure – homes, schools, health clinics, churches, and water – was deeply confronting,’ he said.
Greg met Bishop Reuben Macirr Makoi, who is known as the ‘Bishop in the Bush’ because he has spent more than a decade living with his people in the bush after their homes, farms and everything they owned were destroyed in the conflict. Bishop Reuben has been teaching people by writing with charcoal on pieces of bark.
‘AngliCORD is looking to establish a transparent, accountable, and dynamic partnership with the Episcopal (Angican) Church of Sudan, to ensure that support from Australian Anglicans is really making a difference.’
The challenges are enormous. Millions of Sudanese people have been displaced, and at least 600,000 people are expected to return home in the coming years to start their lives all over again. Another challenge is the lack of skilled labour – the vast majority of southern Sudanese people with training and skills have fled. Now there is a desperate shortage of teachers, health workers, administrators and engineers.
AngliCORD is currently supporting recovery programs in southern Sudan through the Action by Churches Together International alliance (ACT) to ensure at least 30 000 people benefit from access to safe water and hygiene facilities, improved food security, and education. ACT-supported programs are also raising awareness of HIV and AIDS, and building the skills of local leaders in pertinent issues such as conflict resolution, gender equality, and transparent governance.
For more information, contact: AngliCORD on 03 9495 6100 or visit www.anglicord.org.au