Celebrating Self-Sustainability in Sudan

CENTRAL EQUATORIA, SOUTHERN SUDAN – According to Gord Skopnik, Program Leader with International Teams Canada, the people of Southern Sudan really know how to celebrate.

Gord had the opportunity to witness this firsthand on a recent trip to Southern Sudan, which coincided with the grand opening of a conference hall built in partnership with Christian Horizons and The Revival, an interdenominational Christian movement indigenous to Southern Sudan.  The conference hall – which will be used for a variety of purposes including seminars, conferences, evangelism, and even some community events – was introduced to the community on June 10th at a grand opening attended by more than 7,000 people.

“They dance, they sing, they pick you up and carry you around.  They just know how to celebrate in Christ, which is very encouraging!  The grand opening not only celebrated the opening of the facility, but also promoted partnership among us and among the Sudanese people.  It’s a very tribal area, so this was a great opportunity to promote unity between North Americans & Africans, between organizations working together for the good of the Sudanese people, and among us as a whole being from different tribes.”  

Gord’s role with International Teams allows him to facilitate a variety of activities in Sudan on behalf of IT and other partners.  He is currently working with a group of Sudanese people on a water project to make and sell bio-sand filters and bottled water, helping them with marketing initiatives so the project can eventually move toward self-sustainability, a goal that Gord has in mind for every project he is involved with.

Before returning home, Gord also attended a conference that provided an introduction to three herbs native to Southern Sudan that have powerful medicinal, nutritional, and anti-bacterial properties that can be used to clean water, eradicate malaria, and provide vitamin supplements in case of famine.  “All of these trees and bushes grow naturally here, and we’re trying to get people to use them rather than going to dispensaries that don’t stock needed medicines or hospitals that simply aren’t functioning. These herbs are natural things that the Africans knew about many years ago but the knowledge has been lost due to modern medical technology.”

Future plans include completing construction of 3 more schools in the area, establishing a good high speed internet connection for the local computer training centre, setting up a water tower and water running system, and creating a mango drying station.

Gord says that finding and maintaining funding for these projects, as well as administrative costs, is a constant but welcome challenge.  “At this time the program needs $2,800 a month to maintain salaries and operations.  It’s been difficult sometimes to raise the support we need until the projects & ministry are self-sustaining, but it’s always worth it.  That’s always our goal, to someday say, you’re on your own – and you’re doing great!”