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Suzanne Schultz, our director of program, has just completed her first of three weeks in Sudan as part of the Five Talents/Mothers' Union/World Concern literacy and financial education training that is currently taking place.
McKenzie Butler, our program assistant, just spoke to Suzanne, and here's her recap:
I just wanted to give you a brief update on the literacy training taking place in Sudan this past week. I got the chance to chat with Suzanne for a few moments today, and she is doing very well. They have just finished their 1st of 3 weeks of training. This past week, Suzanne had the opportunity to sit in on the literacy training, and she is very encouraged by all that is taking place. With this Sudan program, the Mothers’ Union and Five Talents will be providing literacy training as well as business skills and savings and loan association training to community members within 6 different dioceses in Sudan.
Suzanne shared something interesting that I thought I’d pass along to you to hopefully make the training become more real, even though we are miles away.
This week, the literacy trainer was explaining to the training participants the importance of literacy in the context of savings groups. He asked the question, “How would a group member know when to attend group meetings (in order to pay interest back on their loan) if they could not read a calendar?” His point was that being given the chance to become literate opens up so many doors including the ability to join a savings group and even the ability to read expiration dates on food items to ensure that the food does not go bad before you sell it to your clients!
It is really exciting to think about this synergy of literacy and financial education training. Many, many people will be empowered and will be given the skills to read and write and to save money and receive loans for their businesses.
I hope this is an encouragement to you. Please continue to keep everyone in your prayers. Harun Matuma, who will be the National Program Director for this program will be arriving in Juba on Sunday, and Peter Macharia, our program partner at World Concern, is currently in Wau and hopes to attend some of the training as well. Please continue to pray for all of them and together let us thank the Lord for the people Five Talents has the opportunity to partner with and the work that we have ahead of us!
Friday, August 27, 2010
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Reflections on Sudan by Craig Cole
Recently, I traveled to Sudan with a Five Talents board member, Mr. Jim Oakes, to look at several microcredit and savings programs that Five Talents is funding and to lead a seminar on business planning and leadership principles.
The theme that best summarizes the trip and our message to the people we encountered was simply, “Don’t Ever Give In.” Jim, who preached at a Sunday service at the church in Wau, used the story of Winston Churchill giving this famous speech during World War II in which he exhorted a group of students to “Never Ever Give In.” He then used it again during our business planning and leadership principles seminar.
The testimony of the people we met in South Sudan is just that, a people who have not bowed to the horrors of almost 40 years of civil war since Sudan gained independence in 1956. And now that there has been a peace accord for four and a half years, they are hungry to learn how to become leaders and how to make their communities prosper. The church leaders and those working in the market place know they face enormous obstacles but their faith sustains them as they march toward a future they hope will bring peace and prosperity.
Overall the trip could be described as amazing and inspirational, and we clearly witnessed that the Sudanese have a desire to make a better life for themselves. They don’t seem to have the same type of entitlement mentality we sometimes see in our type of work. They understand the need for training, and they are eager to learn. There is this hopeful optimism for the future that definitely surfaces when engaged in conversation with the church and community leaders.
Yet, it is a complicated society that is still literally shell-shocked from war, and the learning curve is steep in a country that has few paved roads and a population with illiteracy rates of 85 to 90 percent in some regions. There is also an underlying tension in which violence might erupt without warning. The clan-fighting over cattle and property continues to plague the smaller towns and villages and keeps life unsettled and progress slow.
Biblically-Based Business Planning
While in Wau, we spent three days teaching basic business planning, alternating with leadership skills training. The group of 40 men and women meeting in the church were comprised of leaders in the local savings groups in Wau as well as the church leaders.
The purpose of the business planning sessions was to provide them with a learning environment where they would create an actual business plan that would include choosing a business, developing a marketing strategy and learning about record-keeping – all with a foundation in biblical values. We split the attendees into groups of six. At the end of the training, each group presented a viable business plan for the type of business they might want to start. One group wanted to start a guesthouse, another wanted to buy a tractor and then rent it out to local farmers, while others wanted to start a brick-making business and operate a rice farm.
Every time we conduct these trainings, I’m always struck by the intelligent questions and how committed the people are to learning. I shouldn’t be so surprised but that is the bias I carry with me into developing countries – that people can’t do things on their own. But, time and again, I’m proven wrong.
Leadership Training – Start Small Groups and Grow from There
One of the key points we made during the leadership training was the concept of the leader training a small group first and then spreading the word from there. We used Jesus as an example of how to lead effectively. He spent most of his time with a group of 12 men – his disciples. He trained them as a group, so they in turn could train others. The local Episcopal priest in Wau was really inspired by that idea and could envision his church becoming a training hub for the diocese by inviting a one or two priests from each region instead of all of them at once, and then training them to teach the others in Bible, evangelism and other topics.
The closing ceremony of our training was also memorable as the 40 or so participants each received a certificate and many of them gave a yell and held it up above their heads as they took it from our hands. At the end, two of the leaders in the church said a prayer for us and gave us a small gift.
Lietnhom – Transformation and Reconciliation
In December 2007, Jim visited the Lietnhom village bank site as they were just digging the foundation for the concrete bank structure. He admits that the hot, humid weather and rugged conditions made for his most difficult overseas trip.
In May 2008, the village of Lietnhom was burned to the ground by a rival ethnic group and tragically many villagers were killed and their homes destroyed. However, in the midst of the destruction, the village bank was spared because both groups had money in the bank. The local church and other leaders intervened and within one year, the savings groups were reconciled and the village bank became a focal point of community building. In 2009, the bank was dedicated as the Amat Wuot Community Bank, which in Dinka, the local language, means, “a union of communities.” Now, several different ethnic groups have members on the governing board.
The burned-out huts have been rebuilt, the marketplace has been revitalized, and the village leaders are proud of what they have accomplished. This is not just a story of individual transformation but one of an entire community that has been transformed and empowered.
“I was amazed by what has happened,” Jim remarked upon this most recent visit.
The Blacksmiths
I have one final story that I want to share with you. We met a group of blacksmiths, who were part of a savings group in Wau. As they were talking about their work, they told us they acquired their metal from burned out planes and tanks that were used in the most recent 22-year civil war. From these machines of war, they were making farm implements – literally taking swords and turning them into plowshares!
The theme that best summarizes the trip and our message to the people we encountered was simply, “Don’t Ever Give In.” Jim, who preached at a Sunday service at the church in Wau, used the story of Winston Churchill giving this famous speech during World War II in which he exhorted a group of students to “Never Ever Give In.” He then used it again during our business planning and leadership principles seminar.
The testimony of the people we met in South Sudan is just that, a people who have not bowed to the horrors of almost 40 years of civil war since Sudan gained independence in 1956. And now that there has been a peace accord for four and a half years, they are hungry to learn how to become leaders and how to make their communities prosper. The church leaders and those working in the market place know they face enormous obstacles but their faith sustains them as they march toward a future they hope will bring peace and prosperity.
Overall the trip could be described as amazing and inspirational, and we clearly witnessed that the Sudanese have a desire to make a better life for themselves. They don’t seem to have the same type of entitlement mentality we sometimes see in our type of work. They understand the need for training, and they are eager to learn. There is this hopeful optimism for the future that definitely surfaces when engaged in conversation with the church and community leaders.
Yet, it is a complicated society that is still literally shell-shocked from war, and the learning curve is steep in a country that has few paved roads and a population with illiteracy rates of 85 to 90 percent in some regions. There is also an underlying tension in which violence might erupt without warning. The clan-fighting over cattle and property continues to plague the smaller towns and villages and keeps life unsettled and progress slow.
Biblically-Based Business Planning
While in Wau, we spent three days teaching basic business planning, alternating with leadership skills training. The group of 40 men and women meeting in the church were comprised of leaders in the local savings groups in Wau as well as the church leaders.
The purpose of the business planning sessions was to provide them with a learning environment where they would create an actual business plan that would include choosing a business, developing a marketing strategy and learning about record-keeping – all with a foundation in biblical values. We split the attendees into groups of six. At the end of the training, each group presented a viable business plan for the type of business they might want to start. One group wanted to start a guesthouse, another wanted to buy a tractor and then rent it out to local farmers, while others wanted to start a brick-making business and operate a rice farm.
Every time we conduct these trainings, I’m always struck by the intelligent questions and how committed the people are to learning. I shouldn’t be so surprised but that is the bias I carry with me into developing countries – that people can’t do things on their own. But, time and again, I’m proven wrong.
Leadership Training – Start Small Groups and Grow from There
One of the key points we made during the leadership training was the concept of the leader training a small group first and then spreading the word from there. We used Jesus as an example of how to lead effectively. He spent most of his time with a group of 12 men – his disciples. He trained them as a group, so they in turn could train others. The local Episcopal priest in Wau was really inspired by that idea and could envision his church becoming a training hub for the diocese by inviting a one or two priests from each region instead of all of them at once, and then training them to teach the others in Bible, evangelism and other topics.
The closing ceremony of our training was also memorable as the 40 or so participants each received a certificate and many of them gave a yell and held it up above their heads as they took it from our hands. At the end, two of the leaders in the church said a prayer for us and gave us a small gift.
Lietnhom – Transformation and Reconciliation
In December 2007, Jim visited the Lietnhom village bank site as they were just digging the foundation for the concrete bank structure. He admits that the hot, humid weather and rugged conditions made for his most difficult overseas trip.
In May 2008, the village of Lietnhom was burned to the ground by a rival ethnic group and tragically many villagers were killed and their homes destroyed. However, in the midst of the destruction, the village bank was spared because both groups had money in the bank. The local church and other leaders intervened and within one year, the savings groups were reconciled and the village bank became a focal point of community building. In 2009, the bank was dedicated as the Amat Wuot Community Bank, which in Dinka, the local language, means, “a union of communities.” Now, several different ethnic groups have members on the governing board.
The burned-out huts have been rebuilt, the marketplace has been revitalized, and the village leaders are proud of what they have accomplished. This is not just a story of individual transformation but one of an entire community that has been transformed and empowered.
“I was amazed by what has happened,” Jim remarked upon this most recent visit.
The Blacksmiths
I have one final story that I want to share with you. We met a group of blacksmiths, who were part of a savings group in Wau. As they were talking about their work, they told us they acquired their metal from burned out planes and tanks that were used in the most recent 22-year civil war. From these machines of war, they were making farm implements – literally taking swords and turning them into plowshares!
Saturday, June 5, 2010
Nearing Our Departure
Saturday, June 5
Heathrow Airport, London
Jim Oakes and I are in Heathrow Airport a day earlier then expected. We had planned to leave Saturday night arriving on Sunday but because of the British Airways strike, we were to be diverted to Philadelphia and take the train to D.C. Instead, we were able to book a flight Friday evening that will get us in to Dulles at about 6 p.m. EST.
Yesterday, at this time, we were in Wau having final meetings with our partners before heading off to the airport. Since then, we have taken three planes, stopped in four cities and seemed to have cleared some sort of security or immigration a dozen times. In Wau, the airport has one room to check-in and then another room to sit to wait. The landing strip is packed dirt and is used primarily by small prop planes. We first flew to Aweil to pick up passengers and then flew to Juba, the capital of South Sudan, arriving around 3:15 p.m. We met Erin Bricker from World Concern, who gave us a briefing on how to go through customs, which was helpful. It isn’t a complicated process but one needs to know that the guy stamping passports is also collecting the exit tax and then you have to go the person who makes copies of all your documents for 10 Sudanese pounds.
At 4:30, we left for Nairobi. We arrived about 6:30 p.m. cleared customs on a transit visa…checked in very early for the 11:50 p.m. flight to London and had dinner before once again going through security at our gate. I happened to sit on the plane with a man from St. James in Richmond, who had been with a team near Rumbek. Small world.
Overall the trip has been amazing and inspirational, and we clearly see that the Sudanese have a desire to make a better life for themselves. They don’t seem to have the same type of entitlement mentality we sometimes see in our type of work. They understand the need for training and they are eager to learn so there is this hopeful optimism for the future that definitely surfaces when engaged in conversation with the leaders in the church and the communities.
Yet, it is a complicated society that is still literally shell-shocked from the war, and the learning curve is steep in a country that has few roads and with illiteracy rates in some places are 85 to 90 percent. There is a tension underneath the surface in which violence might erupt without warning. The clan-fighting over cattle and property continues to plague the smaller towns and villages and keeps life unsettled and slows progress.
There is a need for people to go over and train in business planning, leadership development and especially in managing accounts. The church is in desperate need of help in training their staff in accounting, basic management and organization not to mention building the theological foundations of the clergy and congregations.
Craig Cole
Heathrow Airport, London
Jim Oakes and I are in Heathrow Airport a day earlier then expected. We had planned to leave Saturday night arriving on Sunday but because of the British Airways strike, we were to be diverted to Philadelphia and take the train to D.C. Instead, we were able to book a flight Friday evening that will get us in to Dulles at about 6 p.m. EST.
Yesterday, at this time, we were in Wau having final meetings with our partners before heading off to the airport. Since then, we have taken three planes, stopped in four cities and seemed to have cleared some sort of security or immigration a dozen times. In Wau, the airport has one room to check-in and then another room to sit to wait. The landing strip is packed dirt and is used primarily by small prop planes. We first flew to Aweil to pick up passengers and then flew to Juba, the capital of South Sudan, arriving around 3:15 p.m. We met Erin Bricker from World Concern, who gave us a briefing on how to go through customs, which was helpful. It isn’t a complicated process but one needs to know that the guy stamping passports is also collecting the exit tax and then you have to go the person who makes copies of all your documents for 10 Sudanese pounds.
At 4:30, we left for Nairobi. We arrived about 6:30 p.m. cleared customs on a transit visa…checked in very early for the 11:50 p.m. flight to London and had dinner before once again going through security at our gate. I happened to sit on the plane with a man from St. James in Richmond, who had been with a team near Rumbek. Small world.
Overall the trip has been amazing and inspirational, and we clearly see that the Sudanese have a desire to make a better life for themselves. They don’t seem to have the same type of entitlement mentality we sometimes see in our type of work. They understand the need for training and they are eager to learn so there is this hopeful optimism for the future that definitely surfaces when engaged in conversation with the leaders in the church and the communities.Yet, it is a complicated society that is still literally shell-shocked from the war, and the learning curve is steep in a country that has few roads and with illiteracy rates in some places are 85 to 90 percent. There is a tension underneath the surface in which violence might erupt without warning. The clan-fighting over cattle and property continues to plague the smaller towns and villages and keeps life unsettled and slows progress.
There is a need for people to go over and train in business planning, leadership development and especially in managing accounts. The church is in desperate need of help in training their staff in accounting, basic management and organization not to mention building the theological foundations of the clergy and congregations.
Craig Cole
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Empowering the Young and Old
Wednesday, June 2
Wau, Sudan
We are currently in Wau having finished the training! One of the key findings during the leadership training was the idea of having the leader train a small group first. We used Jesus as an example. He taught his 12 disciples and spent a lot of time with them so they in turn could train others, etc. The local priest was really inspired by that idea and sees Wau becoming a training hub for the diocese. We take these ideas for granted but not here, not after so many years of war.
Also, we we able to visit a first grade class at the church school with Rev. Thomas Anei. During Thomas' visit to the U.S., he vistied my daughter's first grade class. During his visit, the class read these wonderful prayers for Thomas and for Sudan. So, at the class we visited in Wau, we had the children and the teacher read the same prayers in their class. We also gave them soccer balls that were donated. This was really memorable.
The closing ceremony of our training was also memorable as the 40 or so participants each received a certificate and many of them gave a yell and held it up above their heads as they took it from our hands. At the end, two of the leaders in the church said a prayer for us and gave us a small gift. Jim’s words from earlier in the week, “Never Give Up” were our rallying cry!
We are now at lunch and in a few minutes we will be leaving for two other villages and back Thursday night. Then, on Friday, off to Juba to Nairobi. Saturday night we will head home.
Craig Cole
Wau, Sudan
We are currently in Wau having finished the training! One of the key findings during the leadership training was the idea of having the leader train a small group first. We used Jesus as an example. He taught his 12 disciples and spent a lot of time with them so they in turn could train others, etc. The local priest was really inspired by that idea and sees Wau becoming a training hub for the diocese. We take these ideas for granted but not here, not after so many years of war.
Also, we we able to visit a first grade class at the church school with Rev. Thomas Anei. During Thomas' visit to the U.S., he vistied my daughter's first grade class. During his visit, the class read these wonderful prayers for Thomas and for Sudan. So, at the class we visited in Wau, we had the children and the teacher read the same prayers in their class. We also gave them soccer balls that were donated. This was really memorable.
The closing ceremony of our training was also memorable as the 40 or so participants each received a certificate and many of them gave a yell and held it up above their heads as they took it from our hands. At the end, two of the leaders in the church said a prayer for us and gave us a small gift. Jim’s words from earlier in the week, “Never Give Up” were our rallying cry!We are now at lunch and in a few minutes we will be leaving for two other villages and back Thursday night. Then, on Friday, off to Juba to Nairobi. Saturday night we will head home.
Craig Cole
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Men, Women Gaining Business and Leadership Skills in Wau, Sudan
Tuesday, June 1
Wau, Sudan
We have spent the last two days teaching basic business planning alternating with leadership skills training. The group of 40 men and women who meeting in the church are comprised of women leaders in the local savings groups in Wau and also the church leaders. So, we were asked to do some leadership training as well.
The idea behind the business planning is to have them come up with an actual business plan that covers choosing a business, marketing and record-keeping using biblical values. We split them into groups of six, and tomorrow they will present the finished plan.
As far as leadership skills, we have talked about the traits of a good leader and again had them come up with leaders within the country of Sudan and the world they think met those characteristics. Today, we talked about how leaders mobilize followers. We used the example of Jesus spending most of his time preparing the 12 disciples to be leaders who in turn would train more leaders.
Everytime we do these trainings, I’m always struck by the intelligent questions and how committed the people are to learning. I shouldn’t be so surprised but that is the bias we carry with us into developing countries that people can’t do things on their own. But, time and again, we are proven wrong.
Pray for safe travel tomorrow as we leave in the afternoon to visit Kuadjok and Lietnhom returning Thursday night and then taking a plane to Juba then to Nairobi on Friday before leaving on Saturday for home. Thanks for the prayers!
Craig Cole
Wau, Sudan
We have spent the last two days teaching basic business planning alternating with leadership skills training. The group of 40 men and women who meeting in the church are comprised of women leaders in the local savings groups in Wau and also the church leaders. So, we were asked to do some leadership training as well.The idea behind the business planning is to have them come up with an actual business plan that covers choosing a business, marketing and record-keeping using biblical values. We split them into groups of six, and tomorrow they will present the finished plan.
As far as leadership skills, we have talked about the traits of a good leader and again had them come up with leaders within the country of Sudan and the world they think met those characteristics. Today, we talked about how leaders mobilize followers. We used the example of Jesus spending most of his time preparing the 12 disciples to be leaders who in turn would train more leaders.
Everytime we do these trainings, I’m always struck by the intelligent questions and how committed the people are to learning. I shouldn’t be so surprised but that is the bias we carry with us into developing countries that people can’t do things on their own. But, time and again, we are proven wrong.
Pray for safe travel tomorrow as we leave in the afternoon to visit Kuadjok and Lietnhom returning Thursday night and then taking a plane to Juba then to Nairobi on Friday before leaving on Saturday for home. Thanks for the prayers!
Craig Cole
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