Last year, the Abek Community Development Program (ACDP) sent an assessment team to evaluate the challenges and progress in Wernyol, Southern Sudan. One of these communities in this region is the Abek Community, which is located in Twic County of Jonglei State. The ACDP team successfully met with chiefs, community members, youth, local government, teachers, and students. Our conversations with each group led to the realization that education is the most pressing issue for ACDP. Education has become a top priority for the Southern Sudan community as many parents and leaders are encouraging their children to go to school, believing that only with education will the problems in Sudan change.

After the assessment, ACDP organized all of the program’s immediate actions into short- and long-term projects, the first plan to acquire school supplies (materials).

Why is it important to raise funds for school supplies?

When the assessment team went to Wernyol, Southern Sudan in 2009, they found that many school-aged children were desperately lacking necessary school supplies that would prepare them for higher academic study.  The determined that it was imperative that ACDP raise funds to supply the needed materials, keeping 710 students in school, empowering their education by providing the support they needed. The funds will be distributed in the following areas:

1. Textbooks, pens, and pencils: Students will improve their studies with the aid of reading books and pens and pencils to write their notes.
2. School bags: School bags will prevent rain from ruining the students’ books and help them to keep all their materials organized in one place.
3. Uniforms: Many families cannot afford to buy their children clothes, but if ACDP could provide school uniforms, then every child could enjoy attending school instead of being absent because they have nothing to wear.
4. School shoes: Providing shoes for the students will encourage them to walk 15 kilometers without the fear of harming themselves by walking barefoot.
5. Teachers’ stationery and guides: Providing teachers with stationary and guides we ensure that learning is consistent and adequate so that children can meet the requirements of their grade level.

The Abek Community Development Program (ACDP) is now seeking to raise funds for school supplies before the next school year in order to prepare for school children entering Primary School. ACDP hopes to raise $16,000 Dollars for school supplies.

Budget items:

- Textbooks, Pens, and Pencils: _________       $1,000

- School Bags: _______________________       $5,000

- Uniforms: __________________________     $6,000

- School Shoes: _______________________      $ 3,000

- Teachers’ stationery and guides________ $1,000

Total Amounts: _______________________    $16,000

ACDP pleads to the members and friends of the Abek Community Development Program to raise $16,000 before next year due to the fact that the school children at Wernyol Primary School in Southern Sudan are desperately eager to go school but they do not have the necessary School Supplies they need.

There are many things lacking in many of the schools in Southern Sudan, especially Wernyol Primary School, but the most immediate needs for the school children are school supplies. We ask that you expedite assistance to the Children of Sothern Sudan by giving whatever you can online through the website here or send your check payable to “Abek Community Development Program” at the address listed below.

Kuek Garang

6439 N. Leavitt Street,
Chicago, IL 60645.

About the Abek Community Development Program

The Abek Community Development Program (ACDP) was formed in November 2005 by the members of the Abek Community who now reside within the United States; many on the committee are refugees known as the Lost Boys and Girls of Sudan. When war broke out in Southern Sudan, these communities were devastated physically, emotionally, socially, and educationally. The Abek members in Diaspora understood their suffering and formed an association to alleviate the problems that war left with them. The main mission of the program is to achieve and enhance the unity of Abek Community practices, to provide education and funding for healthcare, to enable systems for water and resettlement, and to promote a positive standard of living in the Abek Community through peace and unity.

Currently, ACDP is focused on raising and distributing funds for the sake of education. For those Sudanese residing in the United States, ACDP is working to raise tuition funds for those who cannot afford to attend universities and colleges. For those who remain in Southern Sudan, the program aims to initiate building of Wernyol Primary School; funds raised for the program in Southern Sudan would be distributed for construction materials as well as school materials.

ACDP is a nonprofit organization incorporated under articles of the Illinois Secretary of State. ACDP is a 501 (C) 3 organization under Nonprofit Federal law. The Abek Community Development is based at Christ Church, 470 N. Maple Street, Winnetka, IL 60093.