New Facebook New Year!

Hello Friends

SSHCO is proud to announce that we have a”fan page” on Facebook located here! Please make sure to join us on this new page and invite all your family and friends to join in.

We still have the “group page” as well, but will be shifting the conversation and announcements to the “fan page.”

Facebook is an amazing tool for Non-profit organizations to reach out to people all over the world looking to help the same cause. You can talk about issues, donate money, meet other people passionate about your interests, and sooo much more. We hope to use new media, and social networking to reach fundraising goals, educate people on the health care situation in South Sudan,  and help improve the health care situation in Maar.

Please help us move forward in this New Year by sharing our page, passion, and cause!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Love,

The SSHCO Team

We are in Motion!

“We are in Motion!” that was our favorite sayings few years ago. Now we have new favorite saying, “We Have Momentum!” The rainy season created a great delay in progress toward the construction of the health clinic in Maar, but now the rainy season has passed and construction has begun. We would like to thank you for being patient for these two years but now the clinic is becoming a reality! A few days ago, we had an amazing conversation with Dr. Majak D’Agoot, one of the most influential leaders of Southern Sudan. Dr. Majak informed us that four full trucks have made it to Maar with the construction materials. The trucks have taken the steel beams and five hundreds bags of cements to Maar for construction. In addition, more trucks are on their way bringing gravels, sands and more materials for the construction process. Furthermore, Dr. Majak said that the builders would attempt to finish the construction of the clinic within 60 days. Thank you Jesus!
The community of Maar has started the construction with $50,000 that they had already donated and SSHCO sent $55,000 toward the additional costs of building and outfitting the clinic. The money you have donated is in good hands and it will be spent wisely as we promised you. The donations will also help with costs of equipping, supplying, and managing the health clinic for the people of Maar. Like we said, “We Have Momentum!” but that motion has force behind it and that force is you. Your prayers, donations, and encouragements are giving us momentum!

Maar Clinic is Constructed!

MaarClinic2

To God be the glory, great things he has done! The clinic is complete. Thanks to all your prayers, donations, and awareness efforts, phase 1 is complete.

Phase II will be supplying the clinic with medical supplies and shipping the supplies to the remote location. A container was purchased with remaining funding. The container will hold all donated medical equipment donations, which will be shipped once filled to capacity. Shipping this container will cost approximately $30,000 to $40,000 from the US to Kenya, then to Juba, and finally to Maar where medical personnel will quickly unload the materials into the clinic.

How can you help? Continue to pray, consider being a missionary for a short term or long term stay, and donate! We are hoping to have this medical container filled with donated medical equipment and shipped by the end of 2011 and make a mission trip in May of 2012.

Praise the Lord, we have movement!

SSHCO Newsletter

Click here to Download the Latest Newsletter

December 2010 Newsletter

July 2010 Newsletter

Speaking Calendar

Feel free to download the speaking_request_form to request Jacob or Lual to speak at your next event.

Speaking Engagement Calendar

In Motion

“We are in motion!” This is my new favorite saying. For much of this first half of this year Lual and I found ourselves so busy with school and work that we wondered if we were making any headway with SSHCO.

Because our schedules are so tight we have to limit our travel and speaking engagements. However, as you can see, (left column) we are still getting around.

Recently a lot of things have begun to fall into place for SSHCO. I (Jacob) have been waiting to hear when my citizen test would be scheduled. Finally, after months of waiting JULY 1 is the date. Passing that test will permit me to apply for a passport then Lual and I can get ready to travel to Southern Sudan .

The IRS has requested additional information related to our application to be recognized by the as a non-profit, 501(c)3 organization. We are working on formulating our response to them.

In the last 10 weeks SSHCO has received or learned of pledged donations surpassing $10,000!

We are getting closer and closer to our goal of raising $50,000 for the start up costs of building, equipping, supplying, and manning a health clinic in the village of Maar in Southern Sudan.

Like I said, “We are in motion!” but that motion has force behind it. Your prayers, donations, and encouragement is helping to keep us in motion! Many, many thanks!

Sudan Refugee Graduates

Jacob’s story on graduating from Spring Arbor University was featured WLNS-TV in Lansing, Mich.

A major achievement for a local man who came to Michigan for opportunity. He’s one of thousands of boys that escaped the civil war in Sudan seven years ago. For every student in these rows of blue, graduation is a big step in their journey through life. Jacob Atem, Sudan Refugee: “Today it’s a big day, I’m graduating from college at Spring Arbor University.” but for Jacob Atem, graduation isn’t just part of the journey it’s the destination he never thought he’d reach.

Full Story

Church Spreads the Word on Darfur

Jacob recently spoke at the Edgewood United Church of East Lansing on Sudan and Darfur. His story was featured in the Lansing State Journal.

The Edgewood United Church of East Lansing and the community joined together to raise awareness and money for the people of Darfur, a region of the Sudan that has been torn apart by a five-year civil war.

Full Story

Jacob Speaks to Oakland University

Recently, Jacob got a chance to speak at Oakland University in Oakland, Mich. He was featured in The Oakland Post.

Oakland University students and faculty celebrated the first Step Up! Festival on Saturday, April 5 to help raise awareness and money for the crisis in Darfur.

The event, co-sponsored by Hand In Hand and OU’s Anthropology Club, featured a performance by Akwaaba Drum Ensemble. There was also a “garage sale” fundraiser held, which included the silent-auctioning of autographed items sent by prominent people like Michigan Senator Debbie Stabenow, rock band Dashboard Confessional and comedian Rob Paravonian.

However, the main features of the evening were the award-winning documentary “God Grew Tired of Us: The Lost Boys of Sudan” and guest-speaker Jacob Atem, one of the Lost Boys of Sudan who were invited to immigrate to America after being displaced from his home in South Sudan as a young boy.

Full Story

Welcome to SSHCO

HutSouthern Sudan Health Care Organization is an organization created to provide relief and support to the people of Southern Sudan. Started by Jacob Atem, one of the Lost Boys of Sudan, his vision is to raise funds to build a medical clinic to serve the needy in Southern Sudan.

SSHCO is a non-profit organization co-founded by Jacob Atem and David Deng on March 27, 2008. Jacob and David are two of the Lost Boys of Sudan who came to America in 2001. Jacob is a senior pre-medical student at Spring Arbor University and David is a junior economics student with specialization in international development at Michigan State University.

SSHCO’s Mission Statement

The Southern Sudan Healthcare Organization has been set up to support the people of Southern Sudan by providing healthcare facilities, education in healthcare and sanitation, and assist in the provision and delivery of healthcare supplies.

Contact SSHCO

Feel free to meet Jacob, learn about the vision of SSHC, and donate to the cause. If you have questions, please contact us.