6/3/26
Today, our guest speaker was Bob Carr. Bob is well known to our Club members as the manger of the Cantigny Park greenhouse. Today's presentation was not about flowers, but rather Bob's involvement with the South Sudan Voices of Hope, Relief and Development:
- https: //southsudanvoiceofhopereliefanddevelopment.org/
- There are numerous photos posted in the website
SSVHR&D is a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO). Locally, they can be contacted at: South Sudan Voices Of Hope, PO Box 4603, Wheaton, IL 60189. Their principle focus is:
- To provide sustainable economic development, educational and vocational training such as carpentry, tailoring, brick making, plumbing, electrical, etc.
- Establish effective health programs geared towards combating common disease through health education and training of health personnel.
- To assist the local agricultural production through provision of seeds, and tools, training of Agricultural Extension to improving food security of the beneficiaries.
- To assist vulnerable Communities affected by Mines /ERWs by offering them education and protection (Mine Action, Child protection, Gender based Violence)
- To offer emergency relief to war affected persons.
- To improve information sharing among stakeholders through civic education and advocacy
- Provide access to clean water.
- Conflict resolution programs
- Trauma counseling workshops
Efforts are centered on the community of Jambo, located in the south of the country. Travel to/from Jambo is a lengthy, ardous, and dangerous undertaking. It is for this reason that the U.S. Dept. of State has Level 4 Do Not Travel Advisory.
See: https://travel.state.gov/en/international-travel/travel-advisories/south-sudan.html
Recent work includes construction of a water tower, a building to house 12 sewing machines, and a latrine. Planned projects are: fence ($38,000) to secure the area, a well and water tower for the high school($36,000) and a Carpentry building on the site($15,000).
