Diocesan News
Connor Diocese pledges to help build a school in Sudan
Connor Diocese has pledged to help the people of its link diocese of Yei, southern Sudan, in a hugely practical way – by building a school.
The Yei Schools Project, launched by Archdeacon Stephen Forde at Diocesan Synod in October, will mean better education and a better future for young people in and around the rural village of Mongo.
Although only 15 miles from Yei town, it takes an hour and a half to reach Mongo by road, a journey Archdeacon Forde undertook during his visit to Southern Sudan in January.
“Most of the children at the school will until recently have lived in refugee camps or in the bush,” said Archdeacon Forde. “Bishop Hilary of Yei is passionate about providing them with an education.”
Although at home their clothes are ragged and some don’t have the luxury of shoes, pupils at the existing Mongo school wear a smart uniform. “The uniform is an indication of the pride these people have in their children and their desire to see their children progress,” said Archdeacon Forde. “When they ask us to help them it is a partnership. They have the determination and enthusiasm but they do not have the resources.”
Mongo is one of six archdeaconries in Yei, and Bishop Hilary wants to see a new school in each. The Cathedral Model in Yei town is finished, and a school in Longamery Archdeaconry is under construction with support from Dublin Diocese.
Mongo was adopted as a project by Agherton Parish in Portstewart which is well on its way to raising its target of £20,000 for a classroom. As a Diocese, Connor will build on this established link with the aim of providing sufficient funds to complete the entire school, including three classrooms, an administration/teaching block and toilet block.
The present building comprises shacks with no walls, roofs with holes in them, and rough sticks which act as seating. There are no desks. Three classes are held outdoors, under a mango tree. “It rains for five months of the year, and mango trees in southern Sudan are no more waterproof than an oak tree here,” said Archdeacon Forde. “The children’s education has to be interrupted. This won’t happen if they have new solid classrooms.”
The new buildings will be brick built with a corrugated iron roof and concrete floor. All classrooms will be equipped with desks.
“There is no sense the education the children receive in southern Sudan is inferior to the education they receive here in Northern Ireland,” said Archdeacon Forde. “They follow a similar syllabus, but are handicapped because they have no desks to lean on and no pens to write with, yet these are the future leaders of southern Sudan.”
Bishop Hilary has identified assistance with education was a priority of the partnership. “This is a project that allows every parish in the diocese to have an involvement in the partnership,” Archdeacon Forde said. “Every parish will be aware of something that is happening in Yei and it allows every parish to engage in prayer.”
“It also allows each parish to decide how it would want to support this project. Some will want to take this on in a sponsorship way and identify it as a project they want to work towards and do some special fundraising events or as a project they want to focus on over Christmas time.
“Other parishes may be committed to other mission projects and feel they cannot give a financial contribution. That’s okay if they can support us with their good will, prayers and an awareness of what’s happening.
“Others may want a stronger link with a church overseas and this will help them do this.”
Archdeacon Forde said the Schools project was the first step in developing the partnership with Yei. “We will also need people with practical and theological skills to go to Yei and train the trainers, and there may also be the chance for youth teams to go out,” he said.
Bishop Hilary is currently in England taking an MA in Leadership Renewal and Mission on a year’s sabbatical. It is hoped he will be able to visit Connor on occasions to talk about Yei and the partnership to a range of parishes.
Brochures on how to support the Yei Schools’ project are being sent to every parish, and can be downloaded from the Mission section on the Connor Diocesan website at www.connor.anglican.org .
Financial donations can be sent to:
Mr David Cromie,
Diocesan Office,
61-66 Donegall Street,
Belfast,
BT1 2QH.
Cheques should be made payable to ‘Connor Yei Partnership Link.’
For further information please contact:
Connor Diocesan Communications Officer
Contact Details
Karen Bushby
028 4066 0798
07766103880
[email protected]