Sudanese Priest to Share Story of Transformation in Southern Sudan

Smaller, riskier, poorer. For 10 years, Five Talents International has been working in regions around the world that could be described by these three words. On Saturday, Nov. 7, Five Talents will commemorate a decade of fighting poverty, creating jobs and transforming lives with a Uniting Communities: 10th Anniversary Celebration Dinner at the Westin Arlington Gateway in Arlington, Va. The evening will begin at 6 p.m. with cocktails, followed by dinner and a keynote presentation by Rev. Thomas Anei, who currently works as a project officer for Five Talents in Lietnhom, Sudan.

No place is riskier or poorer than southern Sudan where Five Talents is supporting a village bank in Lietnhom named “Amat Wuot,” which literally means “a union of communities” in Dinka, the local language. Rev. Anei, who took over this program in 2009 as a project officer, will share about his work providing business and discipleship training for the village savings and loans project and his hopes for his country.

One year ago, the village of Lietnhom was filled with the charred remains of market stalls rather than market goods after a clash between clans devastated the town and displaced residents. However, the village bank, a concrete structure that held a safe and $4,000 of members’ savings, was untouched. Resilient residents returned and were still able to get a small loan from the village bank.

“The idea that a bank could bring together a community is a compelling story,” said Craig Cole, Five Talents President and CEO. “To think that economic development is happening in an isolated village is awe inspiring.”

There are now more than 460 members and savings of $12,000 in the village bank. Rev. Anei is witnessing how this village bank is bringing hope and opportunity to Lietnhom, a village now rising from the ashes of regional conflicts that occurred just 18 months ago.

“My hope for southern Sudan is to see sustainable development and lasting peace,” said Rev. Anei. “I have a heart for the people of southern Sudan. I want them to be really transformed, to come out of poverty. We have been in war for all these years, and this is our chance to rebuild our own lives.”

Tickets are $125 per person. Table sponsorships start at $1,500. To purchase tickets, call (703) 242-6016, email FiveTalentsEvents@FiveTalents.org or visit http://www.fivetalents.org/. The Westin Arlington Gateway is located at 801 N. Glebe Rd., Arlington, Va.

Related events will be:

Tuesday, Nov. 10: Westin Richmond in Richmond, Va., Noon. Cost: $25

Friday, Nov. 13: Highland Park Country Club in Highland Park, Illinois, 7:30 p.m. Cost: $25

Friday, Nov. 20: Lakeway Inn - Mt. Baker Room, Bellingham, Washington, 6:30 p.m. Cost: $25

Established in 1999, Five Talents provides funding for business training and thousands of loans, ranging from $50 to $300, across Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Each loan finances a microbusiness that, in turn, supports up to nine other people. A majority of the loan recipients are women. Five Talents is based in Vienna, Va., with an office in London, England. For more information, visit http://www.fivetalents.org/.