Sudan Orphan-Reach International
…Re-integration, Education and Health Care Needs for the Returnees of the Sudan War
Presented by
The Lost Boys of Sudan
WHAT IS SUDAN ORPHAN-REACH INTERNATIONAL?
lSORI is a global hand of charitable partnership between the Sudanese Diaspora population, their American friends, and friends from all around the world, all supporting the cause of peace for the marginalized people of Sudan who have suffered the indignities of the civil war for far too long. Our organization is committed to serving and protecting the returning refugees, especially the over 300,000 orphaned children, youth and widows who are at greater risk with each passing day.
lIn January 2005, the Comprehensive Peace Agreement was signed between the government of Sudan and the SPLM, bringing to an end the 21-year civil war that claimed over 2.5 million lives and displaced 4 million to neighboring African countries.
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It is these internally displaced people and refugees that are beginning to go back to places they won’t even recognize because of the magnitude of destruction wrought by the war
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The needs for these vulnerable population are so urgent and overwhelming that the local communities cannot handle them alone. There is a great deal of work with reintegrating them into communities.
MISSION AND VISION
lOur vision is to build a better and healthy community for the returnees as they transition from a culture wrenched by war to a path that recognizes the decency of human life, through healing, and resources that ensure durable solutions for self-sustainability.
lOur mission is to serve and protect at-risk children, youth and widows by providing shelter, health care, advocacy and programs that educate and promote personal and family development.
GOALS
lBuild Integration Resource Center to facilitate the return of refugees.
lRaise funds and material support.
lEnhance coordination and collaboration of all peace partners to commit resources to building of educational infrastructure.
PROGRAMS AND INITIATIVES
Health Care & Water Initiative. The returnees will face many health challenges as they come to places that have no clean, safe drinking water and so this program will focus a great deal on urgent health interventions in such areas as health education, water purification and nutritious meals to malnourished children. Our water initiative will focus on water sources such as boreholes for communities.
lEmpowerment and Sustainable Development of Widows Micro-Enterprise Bakery Program. Our Integration Resource Center will provide women with skills that will go a long way toward preparing them for entrepreneurship in their local communities. This will be made possible through provision of literacy courses and training in micro-business financing skills, through distribution of farm equipment ,seeds, and fertilizers so that they can farm. Women will also make use of their creativity in such areas as craft work, weaving, and culinary arts to generate incomes for their families.
Youth Resiliency Initiative. This initiative recognizes that the youth are the ones who have been hit the hardest by this war and the program will address key aspects of their high-risk environment: poverty and illiteracy. The purpose is also to offer motivational and inspirational discussions aimed at reliving the ordeals while recognizing the triumphs, and dreams of these children.
These children need healing and hope—some measure of happiness and an assurance that life is full of opportunities even after having lost everything ,including parents. The program will help young people build their bodies, minds, and spirits through instruction in such areas as sports, language arts, and computer technology, through the development of social skills and through advocacy. The program will ultimately prepare the youth for entrepreneurial activities available to them—tailoring their skills.