Our Projects
What We Do
Our goal is to support communities that look inward for solutions to the serious problems facing them and help them remove obstacles that force people into poverty and dependence.
Decades of war and displacement have left the majority of South Sudan without training or skilled workers. Most adults are illiterate, have little to no access to capital, and lack any access whatsoever to basic healthcare.
Our health and community resource and training projects address five key areas necessary for creating sustainable, healthy, and self-reliant communities.
These resources, combined with direct community involvement, foster a culture of self-reliance, support innovation, promote creativity, stimulate entrepreneurial ideas, and improve the health of the local population, which are the foundations for creating a society that is stable and prosperous.
SUDEF’s holistic approach to community development and enrichment addresses a multitude of issues.
Our health clinic and maternal and child health and training programs support the health and well-being of rural communities.
Our community organizing provides a forum for community members to gather and identify problems in the village and generate local solutions to these problems.
Our community-based programs and services enable individuals to achieve their personal objectives and address the underlying issues that cause poverty, conflict, and instability.
“The opportunities I received in the United States gave me the capacity to transform myself and through SUDEF and the continued support of the American community - we can bring these opportunities to the people of South Sudan.”
Abraham Awolich
Founder of SUDEF
Where We Are
SUDEF’s projects are located in two areas of South Sudan. In Lakes State, South Sudan and in Aweil, in Northern Bahr el Ghazal.
SUDEF supports the initiatives identified by the people of Kalthok and the 12 surrounding villages in Lakes State.
Starting in 2008 a small health clinic was built by the local community and since that time a Maternal & Child Health Clinic (2012) and 8 satellite clinics (2013 though present) are now operational throughout the payum (county) of over 12 villages. In addition, SUDEF has supported when needed the schools that the government and local villagers have built.
SUDEF’s other projects are in Aweil, in Northern Bahr el Ghazal.
Our Board Chair Achier Mou, who got his Master’s in Public Health from Tuft’s University is the Principal of Aweil Health Sciences Institutes and SUDEF has been fortunate to provide support and strengthen maternal and child health services in the only health facility in the area.
Images of Kalthok and Minkamman South Sudan
Health Projects
The Kalthok Clinics, Health Projects, Schools
In 2008 our first clinic, a small building used for storing medications, office space and record keeping. The clinic was built and staffed by the local community. This tiny clinic with three certified health workers served a community of over 12 villages and a population of 25,000.
Patients often walked up to two hours to get to the clinic where patients gathered early in the morning under a huge tamarind tree in front of the clinic.
In 2010, thanks to a very generous donation SUDEF worked with the community to create the areas second health facility, a Maternal and Child Health and Education Clinic. In late 2012 the clinic opened and has saved literally thousands of lives.
During outbreaks of fighting during 2013 these clinics supported over 130,000 displaced persons from Bor town, just north of Kalthok on the White Nile. During this time SUDEF partnered with international NGO’s to provide food support, increased medical services and as a result there are now solar panels on the clinic and the first electricity in the villages, that powers refrigeration which can now store vaccines, which previously could not be kept.
In Aweil, in Northern Bahr el Ghazal SUDEF supported the Maternal Health services and training programs by provided funds for beds, food supplementation during food shortages and other financial support needed.
Currently, SUDEF has supported multiple satellite clinics throughout the 12 villages served which has helped community members who used to have to walk hours to and from the clinics in Kalthok for basic health services. Additionally, SUDEF is assisting when needed with providing funds to pay teaching staff at the schools that have been built and currently is providing funds to repair the roof of the secondary school that was torn off in a recent storm.
The maternal and child health and training center at the Kalthok medical compound aims to reduce maternal and infant mortality rates in the Kalthok region in South Sudan. This unit will be dedicated to providing information and training to expectant and lactating mothers on prenatal care and identifying risks in pregnancy that may lead to complications for either the mother or child. The project will train health care providers, especially local traditional birth attendants on the fundamentals of prenatal and postnatal care, improved techniques, and equipment for providing birth assistance.
The overarching goal of the maternal and child health unit is to reduce maternal and infant mortality rates. To achieve our vision, we have three objectives:
Objective 1: Create a space dedicated to maternal and child health at the existing medical compound in Kalthok.
Objective 2: Provide care, training, resources, and information to mothers during pregnancy, labor, birth, and postpartum.
Objective 3: Timely referrals and transport of mothers and babies with complications beyond the clinic’s capacity to hospitals in Bor or Juba.
We invite you to join us in helping this community improve the health and well-being of mothers and children. With your support, we can answer this call.