Sudan Sunrise - History

History

Sudan Sunrise was officially founded in December 2005 by Tom Prichard. The organization emerged out of an endeavor in 2004 to help Southern Sudanese Christians living in the U.S. deliver aid to Darfurian Muslim refugees in Chad.

In the wake of the emerging War in Darfur, South Sudanese immigrants in the United States responded to the needs of Darfurians, and organized an emergency effort to take a small shipment of medicine to refugee camps in Chad

Darfurian soldiers were used by the Government of Sudan against the Southern Sudanese in the 22-year civil war, making up one half or more of the Army. "Use a slave to kill a slave," was the justification for mobilizing Darfurians against Southern Sudanese. Darfurian refugees in Chad were surprised by the Southern Sudanese efforts to bring them aid, and asked for Southerners to stand in solidarity with them so that peace might come to Darfur. A video appeal from Darfurians, asking Southerners for forgiveness and appealing to them to stand in solidarity with them was filmed by Sudan Sunrise and distributed widely across the US.

In 2006, Sudan Sunrise continued to work with the Sudanese Diaspora community to rally support for Darfur in the spirit of reconciliation by sponsoring various events such as the “Standing Together Against Genocide” banquet in Washington, DC and related events in Denver, Des Moines, and Kansas City. In the same year, Sudan Sunrise began working on reconciliation in South Sudan by overseeing the construction of a community center serving local tribes.

Sudan Sunrise expanded operations the next year by sponsoring a delegation of Lost Boys of Sudan to travel to South Sudan and meet with Darfurian refugees. Later that year Sudan Sunrise returned to Chad to research the educational needs of refugees and to officially register with the Governments of Chad and Sudan. Continuing its efforts in 2007, Sudan Sunrise joined with the Sudanese Diaspora community to organize several events including a rally empowering Sudanese women and a meeting in Washington of leaders within the Sudanese community. As a result a similar meeting was held in Kansas City, which called for Sudanese of all tribes and religions to work together for peace, towards a democratic and just Sudan in a statement entitled “Call to Sudanese Solidarity”.

In 2008, Sudan Sunrise partners with Manute Bol to host a Sudan peace rally at the Iowa State House of Representatives just prior to the Iowa presidential caucuses. (reference presidential candidates addressing Darfur?) Other rally participants included former slave and activist Simon Deng, and human rights activist Nathan Kleinman . Later that year, Sudan Sunrise took a team of Darfurians with Francis Bok, author of Escape from Slavery) on his first return to his home village since his family was killed and he was abducted into slavery, and filmed “Call to Sudanese Reconciliation,” a grassroots plea for all Sudanese to stand together for peace. The film premiered at South Sudan Women’s Empowerment Network conference in Juba, South Sudan. Subsequently, a call to reconciliation was delivered on a prominent Southern Sudanese radio station.

In 2009, Sudan Sunrise began construction of the Manute Bol Primary School, and sponsored three U.S. teachers to travel to Turalei, South Sudan to teach English and basic Math skills. That same year, Sudan Sunrise also partnered with PACT Sudan to drill water wells and provide clean water for the Francis Bok School in Gor Ayen, South Sudan. Later in 2009, Sudan Sunrise Project Director Daniel Kuot supported refugees returning to South Sudan by supplying fishing nets and assisting with the construction of 50 new homes and agricultural facilities in Palio, South Sudan.

Activities in 2010 involved the second phase of construction at the Manute Bol Primary School, including three classrooms, two sanitary facilities, and the capacity to harvest rainwater in Turalei, South Sudan. Sudan Sunrise also sponsored Lopez Lomong and students from the Darfur Students Association, University of Juba, to begin preparation for the Kimotong Reconciliation Church.

In 2011, Sudan Sunrise partnered with the Government of South Sudan to finance voter education, registration, poll observers, and voter transportation for Southern Sudanese living in the US to participate in the 2011 referendum on cessation. In addition, Sudan Sunrise also received a strategic grant from the Open Society Institute to support a delegation led by former Rep. Tom Perriello (D-VA) and Sudan Sunrise Board members to participate in a dialogue to unify political leaders from Darfur. Other initiatives in 2011 included the completion of the Manute Bol Primary School in Turalei, South Sudan and fundraising event with the NBA Cares, involving basketball legends Dikembe Mutombo and Gheorge Muresan. Sudan Sunrise also partnered with the Youth Forum for Social Peace and the Girifna Movement to facilitate the delivery of food relief and a message of reconciliation from the Northern Sudanese to the people of Turalei, South Sudan.

In 2012, Sudan Sunrise partnered with Humanity United to facilitate a meeting in Washington, DC of the Jonglei Youth Peace Initiative. The meeting gathered representatives from 11 countries and 5 tribes from Jonglei State, South Sudan to discuss a framework for peace for their respective communities.

Ongoing projects include building a permanent kitchen at the Manute Bol Primary School in Manute’s home village of Turalei and finishing construction on the Lopez Lomong Reconciliation Church in Kimotong, South Sudan.