Sudan Comprehensive Peace Agreement

A very important message from Jennifer Ernst, founder of Hope for Humanity:

The CPA and it's Effect on Hope and Resurrection Secondary School

The Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) was signed in January, 2005 between the Government of Sudan (GoS) and the Sudan People’s Liberation Army ending the longest-running civil war in Africa. Since that time, there have been violations of the agreement on the part of the Government of Sudan and it is widely believed that militias are being armed in the South by GoS in order to fuel conflict which appears simply as tribal feuds.

There are only 18 months left before the CPA expires: time is running out. If the peace agreement does not hold and there is a return to war, it is feared that this conflict would be more deadly than the previous one and the loss of lives would be tremendous.

All efforts to develop the South would be destroyed, possibly including Hope and Resurrection Secondary School. The mission of the school is to educate the future leaders of the South and train them to be effective leaders in their communities and church. We have made great progress in just a short time. Future plans for the school include the addition of co-ed boarding facilities which would enable students to attend from all regions of Southern Sudan; uniting tribes and clans and offering a safe place for past differences to be reconciled and teaching the students how to live in peace and harmony as united Southerners.

The request is two fold:

(1) Make your voice heard. Tell our leaders that you want to see the US government do their part to insure Sudan remains peaceful. Please visit Sudan Emergency now for additional information, and spread the word to those you know.

(2) Please continue your support of Hope and Resurrection Secondary School. This school is making a difference in Southern Sudan.

Archbishop of Sudan Visits Hope for Humanity Supporters

It's been a busy week of meetings, luncheons, and traveling with Archbishop Daniel and his wife, Deborah. After meetings in Washington, D.C., they will be visiting with their son, who is graduating from college, and then returning home to Juba, Sudan.

We had a fantastic dinner last night with about twenty folks who are involved or interested in Hope for Humanity and the Episcopal Church in Sudan.

The Very Rev. Dr. Daniel Deng Bul Yak, Archbishop of Sudan, addressed the group at a dinner in his honor.

We discussed many potential opportunities to expand our reach in educating the youth of Southern Sudan, and addressed many of the needs in the region. Archbishop Daniel is a strong supporter of Hope & Resurrection Secondary School, and we continue to expect great things for our future!

Jennifer and Daryl Ernst with The Very Rev. Dr. Daniel Deng Bul Yak and wife Deborah.

We have some exciting plans for the immediate future that will require your help! Stay tuned for more information in the coming weeks about how you can be involved. If you have a heart for Southern Sudan, and believe in the future of her people, you will not want to miss out on this opportunity!

Buck Blanchard, Coordinator of World Mission for the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia, and Rev. Weezie Blanchard with The Very Rev. Dr. Daniel Deng Bul Yak and wife Deborah.

Archbishop of the Episcopal Church of Sudan

We're thrilled that The Very Rev. Dr. Daniel Deng Bul Yak, Archbishop of the Episcopal Church of Sudan, is visiting Richmond, Virginia this week. We'll be hosting a dinner in honor of he and his wife Deborah, and are so excited to have the chance to speak to them about the future of education in Southern Sudan.

If you'd like to learn more about the Episcopal Church of Sudan and the Archbishop, visit their official website.

We'll be posting more about our visit with Archbishop Daniel soon.

Sudanese Student Adjusts to Life in Virginia

The introduction to this January 2006 Richmond Times-Dispatch article tells the story of Gideon Mabeny, a Sudanese attending Fork Union Military Academy.

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Sudanese Student Adjusts to Life in VA:

Through a donor's generosity, he now studies at Fork Union Military Academy and hopes to go to college.

by Alberta Lindsey

Gideon Mabeny learned his ABC's and numbers on a splintery log under a tree. Only the teacher had a textbook. If it rained, children went home. Now, Mabeny not only has his own textbooks, but also has a desk in an indoor classroom with computers. Classes continue in rain, sleet and snow.

Eighteen year old Mabeny, a native of Sudan, began classes Jan. 4 at Fork Union Military Academy, a college preparatory, military boarding school in Fluvanna County for boys in grades six through 12 and postgraduates. “I'm excited to be here. It's a nice school,” Mabeny said during the break from classes Tuesday. “The first day came, I didn't know what to do. I was new to this place. I think now I'm getting to know my way around.”

When Mabeny enters a room, he ducks his 7-foot-tall slender body to keep from hitting his head on the door frame. Although his height is a bit of a problem here, he sees it as a gift from God. The school's uniforms and mattresses are too short. A seamstress altered his uniform for him. But when he sleeps, he just bends his legs, he said, laughing at the thought. Eating three times a day amazes Mabeny, who is used to one meal a day. “ You eat too much food.” he said. The Fork Union staff describe the young Sudanese man as shy, polite and hardworking.

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To read the rest of this article and discover the part that Hope for Humanity played in this story, please visit our website.

A 'Lost Boy' Goes Home to Sudan

The introduction to this July 24, 2005 Richmond Times-Dispatch article tells the story of Maker Marial, the inspiration behind Hope for Humanity.

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A 'Lost Boy' Goes Home - Mother and Son Reunite in Sudan 18 Years After War Tore Them Apart

by Alberta Lindsey

A woman in a yellow flowered dress stood alone peering down the dirt road. A few feet away, either woman and children also watched the road. As the Toyota Land Cruiser came into view, the women started jumping up and down, screaming and waving.

Inside the Land Cruiser, excitement also grew. Three or four times, Maker Marial scanned the faces of the waiting women. “Oh, there's my mother,” he said of the woman in the yellow dress. Their eyes met and Maker knew he was right. The Land Cruiser had barely stopped before the women grabbed the rear doors and pulled Maker from the vehicle. His mother and two other women were hugging him at the same time. Suddenly, it was a group hug. No words were needed. Long, clutching embraces said it all.

Mother and son were together for the first time in 18 years. Neither knew the other was alive until three years ago. I am happy. Very, very happy,” said Maker, 27, who lives in Henrico County, VA.

He is a full-time student at J. Sergeant Reynolds Community College and worlds nights part time as a cashier at Wal-Mart. His goal is to become a human rights lawyer.The last time he saw his mom, he was a boy of 9. He returned to his native Sudan last month as a part of a mission team from the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia.“I lost my son. Now I have him back. I am very happy. I thank God,” his mother, Rebecca Ajout Maker said, smiling. She spoke in Dinka, the native language of this area in southern Sudan. Maker or his brother, Akot Marial, translated.

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To read the rest of this article and discover the part that Hope for Humanity played in this story, please visit our website.