South Sudan

image013Kids In Crisis is partnering with a very special brother by the name of Alex Bolek.  Alex was born in Sudan and currently lives in South Sudan.

Alex had attended medical school in Romania in the late 1990’s where he completed his studies in medicine.  While in Romania Alex invested in the lives of other international medical students with a student ministry he established and he also helped in the Gypsy village from time to time.

After completing his degree Alex and his wife Helen moved back to Sudan.  The civil war in Sudan had lasted for 22 years and was one of the longest civil wars on record.  In 2011, six years after war ended, South Sudan, became an independent nation. This was the region from which Alex had escaped for his life when he was a child.  At the establishment of South Sudan Alex and Helen moved to the capital city of Juba in South Sudan.

For years Alex had been cut off from any communication with his family. He did not know who in his family had survived the war.  In Christmas of 2013 Alex returned to Terekeka County in South Sudan where his family lived.  Alex learned that his father had died in the war, but was happy to learn that other family members had survived.  It was extremely distressing for him to see firsthand the devastating effects of war in this region, especially in the lives of children.  Alex knew he must do something to help these children.

Alex wrote to us and said, “… if we keep silent this time or pretend that we have not seen any need that needs to be met, God is ready to use or bring someone else.  One must take risk to be able to accomplish something for His people.  Fear of failure always keeps us back from trying something new.  One saint said faith is spelled R-I-S-K.” Alex’s vision is for the school is that it be a “Rescue Mission” for the children of South Sudan.

We feel compelled to help Alex reach the children in South Sudan with the love of Jesus. A ministry similar to what is operating in Romania is currently being established in South Sudan.  However, Alex has obstacles to overcome we could never have dreamed of eighteen years when we began working in Romania.  Warring factions still make it dangerous in South Sudan.  The area where Timothy School is located is further away from the violence, but the threat is real and is always present.

Goals Achieved and Current Projects:

  • Kids in Crisis International purchased a used vehicle in 2015 for transportation of volunteers, teachers and some materials between the capital city of Juba to Mundari Bura Village, Terekeka County
  • The initial 4 classrooms were insufficient for the 750 students that registered.  Another 8 classrooms were eventually added to Timothy School in 2017 and 2018. These additions enabled them to educate the children from Kindergarten to 8th Grade.  [The bricks for the school buildings had to be made in Juba (the capital city) due to insufficient water/sand/stone to make bricks in the village. These bricks were then transported more than 100 miles through treacherous muddy terrains to reach Mundari Bura, with some journeys taking a few days to get there.  During the Rainy Season, these roads are impassable to traffic.]
  • Timothy School is currently serving about 300-500 students a year.  Unfortunately, a good number of students had to drop out due to hunger as famine is ever present.  
  • Recently, during the 3rd Anniversary Celebration of the School and the laying of the High School Foundation Stone, the school girls were empowered to rise up to lead too.   
  • The presence of Timothy School in the Village has brought families to migrate to the area including families from other tribes hence further unifying the different tribal factions and bringing hope for the future to the area.

Current Needs and Prayer Points:

  • Urgent need for Borehole Well to supply water to the school.  Recently we were able to raise sufficient funds to initiate the Well Project.  We anticipate the Well to be completed by the end of March 2020.   
  • A Feeding Program to be established in the school to enable the students to have at least a meal a day while in school.  Two secure Containers will need to be purchased to ensure adequate safe keeping of the food during the school year.
  • Solar Power for electricity for the School and the Teachers’ quarters. 
  • School supplies/uniforms for the students.
  • A second larger truck to help with transporting materials and food to the school.
  • Fence around the perimeter of the school to prevent wild animals from wandering into the school and for the safety of the children. 
  • A High School/Senior School in the Village. (The land and foundation stone has been laid for the High School/Senior School.)
  • Long-term Plans: To have a clinic to serve the children and surrounding communities, agricultural classes to be a part of the curriculum, and to have a University some day.

Things you can do:

  • Prayer support for the above needs.  
  • Tax deductible donations to meet the critical needs listed above both of which would be greatly appreciated.