by Andrew Henderson

Students in the fifth-grade classes at Hannibal’s Kenney Middle School are raising money to assist one of the “Lost Boys of Sudan” stock a health clinic in the impoverished African country.

Students are bringing in spare pocket change for the health clinic, according to teacher Julia Brooks.

“In about two and half weeks, we raised a total of $387.28,” said Ms. Brooks. “All three of the original classes involved had set a challenge for their students. We had told our students that if they were able to raise $50, we would also personally match that amount. Two out of the three classes exceeded their $50 and the third class raised almost $40.”

This the second consecutive year that the students have raised money for projects in Africa.

“It started out as a project between two classes—my class and that of Dedra Hurd (also a fifth-grade teacher),” said Ms. Brooks. “Last year, my class had raised money for the Malaria No More organization, which provides bed nets in Africa to help prevent further cases of malaria.”

Mrs. Hurd expressed an interest in joining Ms. Brooks’ class raising funds for a project this school year. “I was willing to have another class join in but this time the Malaria No More organization just didn’t seem like the right fit,” she said.

After reading an article in a newspaper, Ms. Brooks was inspired to choose the American Care for Sudan organization, which is based in Skaneateles. “The article told the story of the health-care clinic that was built in Duk Payuel in Southern Sudan,” the teacher noted. “The inspiration for the building of this clinic came from some of the Lost Boys of Sudan who had been resettled in Syracuse in 2001.”

John Dau, probably the most well-known of the Lost Boys, visited Syracuse and area churches to raise awareness that health care in the country is almost non-existent.

“Prior to the building of this clinic, there was no immediate medical care close by,” said Ms. Brooks. “Most sick villagers had to walk about 75 miles to see a doctor of some sort.”

Dau and the other Lost Boys are part of the Dinka group. Among the Dinka, there is a belief that everyone shares and provides for each other whatever is needed. “It is a very unselfish culture and many of the Lost Boys who resettled in the U.S. often have worked two or three jobs or attended school to send money back home to the families and friends they left behind,” she said.

Ms. Brooks said she is amazed how so many people in Africa lack some of the basic necessities and often deal with diseases that are generally not an issue in the United States.

Recently, she contacted Rev. Dr. Craig Lindsey, a pastor from the Skaneateles Presbyterian Church, who is on the American Care for Sudan board that oversees the health-care project. Dr. Lindsey, who made several trips to the Sudan, visited the school April 10 to talk about country and the project.

“They raised enough money, along with John Dau, to build the health-care clinic a few years ago,” said Ms. Brooks. “Money is still needed for the medical supplies, equipment, and other items that make this clinic operate in Sudan. We had three students present Dr. Lindsey with an oversized check of our donation. Hannibal, as you know, is certainly not a wealthy district. Many students voluntarily brought in allowance money or Easter money or asked to bring in change from around the house. No donation was too small because we emphasized that together it means so much more.”

She continued, “This project has opened the eyes of many of our students and they have seen how such small efforts can create such a large difference in the world,” she added. “I find these projects to be so empowering for our students and I hope that this is one of those non-textbook experiences that make life itself such a valuable learning and teaching tool.”