Duk Padiet Students Rated the Best Perfomers in the State Exam.

Please see the link below. In case you want to donate, please contact me.
 
http://www.sudantribune.com/Students-in-conflict-areas-on,41670

Holiday Wishes

Dear all,
As 2011 draws closer to pass, I wish to thanks all of you for your support to the SSEC. Those who have organized the fundraising and those who have contributed financially are all equal to the success of the project.

2011 has brought a renewed energy to the SSEC, and we are looking forward to a better 2012. As we draw closer to achieving our goal, we hope that you will find it necessary to finish the journey together with us by supporting SSEC even more. For a meantime, enjoy the holiday with your loved ones.

Best wishes and happy holidays!

Solomon Awan

The Fundraising was a Success

To all the supporters, the December 11th fundraising event was a success. On behalf of SSEC, my sincere thanks to those who helped organize the event, including Vicky, Pam, Veronica, and Kathy. In the same magnitude, my heartfelt thanks to those who have reached to the bottom of their pockets and donated. To us, every penny account, and your donations have taken us a step closer to accomplishing the goal. To those who have not donated yet, please consider supporting SSEC, and donated today to help us finish building of the school.

Thanks!
SSEC

Fundraising

SSEC has fundraising event on Sunday December 11, 2011. For those who may not come, we are inviting you to consider donating to the project through The Hope Alliance. Please make note that your donation is going toward South Sudan Education for Change. Thanks for your supports.
Contact:

801-694-3048
solomonawan@yahoo.com

My Sincere Thanks!

Solomon is very thankful to Coleen and the family for their efforts to make sure that children studying under trees in Duk, South Sudan will have shelter on their backs before next year end. They are the "Gold" donors, both in time and their own funds, for the project. They are education dream for those kids!

A mileston Achievement

Dear friends, Supporters of the SSEC, I am again updating you on the status of the school we all need to see going through. I made a call to the field on Saturday and was told that bricks production went very well to the capacity of cement that was initially purchased. This means that bricks production would have been completed by now was not the shortage of cement. In addition, I was told that digging of the foundation will commence within two days. The manager (David Malith) will come to Juba soon to request additional funds for the purchase of addintional materials. Among others, he will be requesting funds for the following items:
• Timber
• Cement (additional to what has already been)
• Iron sheets (150 pieces already purchased)
• Engineer compensation
• Transportation fees
Challenges
I was told that the engineer/masonary was asking unbearable amount for his compensation. The village authorities are negotiating with him to come down from his price tag. I will get more information when David Malith arrives in Juba.

Another challenge is that we are behind the schedule. We were expecting a completion of the construction before rainy season begins. We can still meet that if we have enough funds for the upcoming purchase.

Your Help Needed
Friends, supporters of the SSLP, we all know how it has been hard on our finances beginning last year to present. However, we made determination and started this project during bad economic shock in the contemporary history. We shouldn’t give-up this time while we are halfway through. With the spirit of humanity, spearheaded by 6 year old Jayden, let us all make sure we finish this project together. The longer we leave it to one family (Clark’s family) the harder it becomes on them. Please joint hand with determined friends to get this done.

For donation, referral, ideas, or anything, please contacts me. I can be reach at:

Solomon Awan
solomonawan@yahoo.com

Thanks for your unwavering support!

The Birth of Republic of South Sudan

Happy Birthday to the Republic of South Sudan, July 9, 2011!

An announcement for the new name

After one month since I asked you, the supporters, to suggest or vote for a new name, I am please to announce the following name as the winner. Those who have voted have unanimously supported “South Sudan Education for Change” (SSEC). I am very please that this name was chosen because it has a lot in association with the mission of facilitating favorable learning environment for the aim of reducing current staggering illiteracy rate in the region. The name will go live on July 9^th, but to reserve the right, the current name has been changed to read “Southern Sudan Education for Change”. When time comes, july 9^th, “ern” would be removed. 

Why is the name SSEC a good match?

Many statistics place Southern Sudan on top of the countries with highest illiteracy rate. For that reason, Southern Sudan ranked high in child motility rate, lack of clean water, dependence on UN aidInsecurity, lack of infrastructure, and insecurity. Hence, it’s evidenced that change is needed and it will only come through education. Like any other developing or developed countries, education will domestically produces qualified doctors, engineers, economist, and teachers to the republic of south Sudan. And most importantly, education will tame the subsequence generations from causing insecurity and instead values their lives and be productive members of their respective communities. When this happened, South Sudan would become home to anyone who currently hesitate to live there. Who will bring the change? It is you and me; therefore, we cannot wait a week or month for the change to happen. Others have already started and their names are listed on the right side of this blog. Please send your donation to:

The Hope Alliance

1775 West 1500 South

Salt Lake City, UT 84104

801-952-0400

Please include a note directing them as toward “Solomon School Project” or for Southern Sudan Education for Change. I would also like you to notify me either through solomonawan@yahoo.com or 801-694-3048.

Thank you for your support

The Window has Officially Closed

Dear readers,


The window, allowed, for suggestion of a new name has officially ended with the name suggested. It was closer to unanimous exercise. The new name will be shared in two days time. It is a hope that those who have participated suggested the name the rest would support. Thanks to everybody who has participated.

Name Change Underway

Supporters of SSLP and patrons, I would like to make you aware on the pending project name change. This name change is necessitated by the birth of the new country on July 9, 2011. The project has the name Southern Sudan that will change when it will becomes the Republic of South Sudan. Therefore there is a need to change the project name as the name Southern Sudan will not longer represents the new country. However, the name has not been picked yet. I would like to invite you to participate in suggesting a suitable name so that a new name is ready comes July 9^th. Here are some suggested names:

I. South Sudan Literacy Project

II. South Sudan Education for Change

III. South Sudan School for Change

IV. Dongchack School for Change

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Please participate by suggesting a new name, or vote on the above four suggested names. We have 15 days to come up with a name and it will be announced two days after that. I am waiting to read your suggestion or voting. Thank you in advance for your participation.

Independent Republic of South Sudan

SSLP is here congratulating the people of Southern Sudan for their recent hard-won freedom from the central government’s (Northern Sudan) decades of oppression. For those who may not know, Southern Sudan has voted for total independence from the North in the last January’s referendum. This came as a result of two decades of civil war which took 2.5 million lives mainly from the South. The referendum results were announced on February 7, 2011 with 99% favoring independence. However, the formal declaration of independence will be on July 9, 2011. The success of the referendum and its results acceptance by the North has removes the uncertainty of war resumption between the two warring regions. Therefore, it was a freedom at last for the people of Southern Sudan.

Supporters of SSLP, the cause of the civil war was marginalization of the people of southern Sudan by the central government residing in the North. One of the effects of such marginalization is high illiteracy rate in the South. As of today, illiteracy stood in the range of 95 – 98% in the South Sudan. Such a staggering illiteracy rate in the 21 first century needs to be suppressed quickly if living conditions for the people of South Sudan had to change for better. This is where our helping hand is needed and the good news is that we are not starting from zero. We have already started in 2009 with construction materials on the ground and foundation for four classes constructed. However, we stuck there because we ran out of funds. The last couple years were difficult as a result of economic turmoil worldwide and still in recovery mote. However, we need to reenergize and push for its completion. The spirit of justly freed people of South Sudan will help us raise enough funds for the project. Please help SSLP to accomplish this worthwhile project we could find gratitude as we did something for the betterment of the world.

New Year Wishes

On behave of the Southern Sudan Literacy Project; I would like to extend my sincere wishes to all our supporters a happy and prosperous new year. I thanks all of you for your generosity to the SSLP in pass years and hopping that you will be even more generous in 2011 to finish the mission of building the school we all started together. Again, happy 2011 for all of us!!!

Christmas Greetings

On behave of SSLP and my own behave, I wishes you all the supporters a Merry Christmas!

Mission Needs Energy

Dear Supporters of the SSEC,

The mission we started a year ago is not yet accomplished. We certainly started it knowing that it was going to be a journey of sometimes. Among all of us, nobody has exhausted, but we need morale to take it to the next level. We need to use this rainy season to gather financial resources for the final push in the up coming dry season. If you are new, please consider supporting this lives-changing project. Please contact myself or The Hope Alliance if you want to contribute.
On behalf of them, thank you for being part of this worthwhile endeavor.

Best Regards,
Solomon Awan
Managing Director

The People We are Trying to Help are Being Massacred

Reuters)

General News
23/09/2009 10:12:37

UPDATE: More than 100 dead in South Sudan attack - officials
*Surge in violence threatens peace deal, southern stability

*Some locals say attack was revenge for cattle rustling

By Skye Wheeler

JUBA, Sudan, Sept 21 (Reuters) - More than 100 people were killed when tribesmen raided a south Sudan village, burning buildings and attacking churchgoers, officials said on Monday, in a further escalation of violence in the oil-producing region.

A surge of tribal killings this year has sparked fears for the stability of Sudan''s underdeveloped south, still emerging from two decades of civil war.

Fighters from the Lou Nuer tribe attacked the village of Duk Padiet, home to a rival Dinka group, on Sunday morning while many of the villagers were in church, officials told Reuters.

The extent of the carnage only emerged on Monday when officials reached the remote settlement in Jonglei state.

A total of 51 villagers and 28 southern soldiers, national security and police officers guarding the settlement were killed, said southern army spokesman Kuol Diem Kuol.

"From the attackers 23 bodies were found on the ground. These attackers were found in uniform with arms and organized in a military organisation in platoons with G3 rifles," he said.

The United Nations estimates more than 1,200 people have died in ethnic attacks in south Sudan this year.

Some of the fiercest fighting has been in Jonglei, parts of which are included in a largely unexplored oil concession operated by France''s Total.

Southern politicians have accused their former civil war foes from north Sudan of arming rival tribes to destabilise the region in the build-up to elections in 2010 and a referendum on southern secession in 2011. Khartoum denies the accusation.

THOUSANDS FLED AS BUILDINGS BURNED

"This is a campaign against the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (the faltering 2005 accord that ended Sudan''s north-south civil war) and against the people of Duk," Mayen Ngor, the commissioner of surrounding Duk County, told Reuters by phone from near the scene of the attack.

Ngor said the attackers burned down 260 huts, the police station and local government buildings, injuring 46 people and forcing thousands to flee.

Around two million people died in the 1983-2005 war between Sudan''s Muslim north and mostly Christian south. The conflict also set southern tribes against each other as the north backed rival southern militias.

Some analysts and southern leaders say they fear the new violence marks a return of the southern militias, backed by groups trying to undermine the peace deal, or local leaders, strengthening their power bases in the run-up to elections.

The 2005 peace deal which promised elections and a referendum also gave the south a share of the country''s oil wealth and set up a semi-autonomous southern government.

North-south relations have remained tense and analysts say many of the northern political elite are nervous about the referendum, and the prospects of losing the south, the source of most of Sudan''s proven oil reserves.

South Sudan has long been plagued by ethnic clashes, mostly fought over cattle and related feuds. But observers have been shocked by the scale of this year''s violence, where tribal fighters have attacked villages and killed women and children.

Members of the Lou Nuer tribe this month denied their fighters had joined militias, telling Reuters most of the recent raids were revenge attacks for past cattle rustling.

"It is just cattle raiding ... It''s just revenge," said William Khor Reath, executive director for Akobo County, a mostly Lou Nuer area in Jonglei state.

Traditional disputes have been exacerbated by a ready supply of guns left over from the civil war. (Editing by Andrew Heavens and Tim Pearce)

http://www.gurtong.org/photogallery/Duk-Padiet-Attacks/index.htm

A picture Worth Thousand Words

Dear friends, supporters of the SSEC,

Please see yourself the pictures of the school you and I are working on. These pictures came from the site and contain bricks production and construction materials being downloaded. We are getting there slowly, but with confidence and resolve. Next, we will be seeing a picture of a beautiful school with a student standing in front of a classroom with broader smile saying thank you!!!

Let us once again rejuvenate and push this project to the final result we’re aiming for-------a full school with eight classrooms, two toilets, and a library.

Thank you all for your contribution!

Invitation to Speak at Centerville Rotary Club

Solomon spoke at the Centerville's Club this morning. Stay tuned because more information will be provided later.

Additional Funds for the SSEC

Dear supporters of the SSEC, Solomon has received an email from the top donor and friend, Coleen Clark for additional funds toward the project. Coleen has been mobilizing her family to see through that the project succeeded. The commitment ranged from prayers to thousand dollars. Her family has contributed over 65% of the funds so far, and 20% from her family efforts in mobilizing their friends for support. On behave of the SSEC, Solomon is very thatful to Coleen and her family. Stay tune, Solomon will update you when the check is presented.

An Update

Friends, this is to update you on the school construction process. I called home yesterday and I talked to both civil administrator and the paramount chief. They were thankful to the donors for the first shipment of the construction materials. They told me that the construction site has been cleared and leveled and were ready to produce bricks; however, they are faced by the following:
1. Truck to carry sand to construction site. They said those with private truck are asking for $200 per one tripe
2. Rocks for constructing foundation. The area has no nearby mountain to collect rocks. However, small rocks could be collected in the Jonglei Canal. There are people who collect rocks for sale. One sack of small rocks costs $15
3. Proposed to make block bricks instead of mud bricks. This was to make it durable and not destroyed by unexpected rainfall during the process
4. Food for those who would be doing manual work. They told me that harvest was bad last year because of flood. They are proposing one meal a day for those who would be doing work.

My response to the above was that there was no enough money to do them; however, I told them that I will raise these issues with you, the donors.

Solution
• Truck: I told them to make an agreement with truck owner for future payment
• Rocks: No clear solution, but construction wouldn't be possible without rocks for foundation
• Block bricks: I told them to go ahead since they only need 70 sacks of cement
• Food: Conditional based on the money we have

What does this mean?
This means that the budget presented was not enough because the costs of these requirements were not included. Therefore, we need to raise additional money because they are vital for the project.

Thank you for standing behind this worthwhile project, together, we're getting closer!!!

The First Shipment has arrived in Duk

Dear friends, supporter of the SSLP, Solomon is pleased to inform you that the first construction material shipment has arrived in Duk, Dongchak Payam. The elders of the payam (administrative unit) will meet on Friday to plan on how to proceed with the brick production and the rest of the work. Solomon received this message from the Payam's civil administrator, Mr. Marial Awan. Stay tune, Solomon will keep updating you on the progress of the work.

Solomon Received a Check

Southern Sudan Literacy Project has received donation from the Clark's family, Barcdull family, and Johasen family. The check was present by Jayden Greg Clark (see picture above) and received by Solomon Awan. The amounted received was double than what was promised. Good to take extra step-promise less and do more!

On behave of the SSLP, Solomon is very thankful to Greg and family and the friends. Every single donation brings SSLP closer to achieving its goal. The organization has raised over 50% of the funds need it for the first phase of the project. Please joint and be part of fighting illiteracy in Southern Sudan.

Good News for the SSEC

Solomon has received email from Greg Clark indicating that his son will be presenting a check to SSEC tomorrow. Greg also indicated that he has checks from his friends who wanted to be part of fighting illiteracy in Southern Sudan. SSEC is very thankful to Greg' son and his friends. Solomon would be honored to accept checks on behave of the SSEC. Stay tune, you will be updated when the checks are presented.

Truck

Solomon made a call to Malith in Juba to talk to him about the process of transporting construction materials to Dongchak. Malith told Solomon that the truck, taking business owners merchandises, was going to be loaded today. The truck was going to take two days, and the second round was going to be for the SSLP. Solomon thanks Mr. Malith and he will call again tomorrow to check whether the truck is off for Duk.

Dongchack Payam: The official birth of SSLP

In the prictures are stundents, village chiefs and member of parliament, honorable Joel Maker Deng Malou. This was the day Solomon met with the authorities to make the birth of SSLP official. Solomon and the authorities met to outline each other contribution in the process.