PWRDF: Peacebuilding and trauma healing in Sudan
By Rev. Greg Jenkins
One of the realities of our work at PWRDF is that vital efforts are ongoing in areas that rarely make the headlines. While the terrible crises faced by the people of Ukraine and Gaza draw significant global attention, other regions like Sudan receive far less coverage despite their dire situations.
On April 15, 2023, civil war erupted in Sudan, leading to intense street battles involving troops, tanks, and planes. Tragically, over 150,000 people lost their lives in 2023 alone. By early this year, more than 5.8 million people were internally displaced, and over 1.5 million had fled the country as refugees.
Alarming statistics reveal that over 95% of Sudan's population cannot afford a meal a day. As of last month, the United Nations reported that over 8.6 million people have been forced from their homes, with 18 million facing severe hunger, including 5 million at emergency levels.
In addition to the armed conflict, two consecutive years of flooding and inflation driven by the COVID-19 pandemic have severely exacerbated poverty in Northern Bahr El Ghazal state. Poor roads, ambushes, and hijackings hinder movement and obstruct humanitarian access to remote areas.
During our recent PWRDF Huron meeting, a member reminded us that our work is in response to the Gospel, and therefore the stories of our work are Good News. When we consider the situation in Sudan, finding good news seems impossible. This reflects the bias in media news, which leans heavily towards reporting tragedy. However, God is at work in even the worst crises through deeply committed individuals who work tirelessly for peace. Their stories are Good News and often go untold.
Among these stories is the work of our Anglican partners in Sudan. PWRDF reports that the Episcopal Church of South Sudan (ECSS), together with the Northern Bahr El Ghazal Internal Province (NBGIP), is engaged in local peacebuilding and trauma healing. You are supporting their work through PWRDF. NBGIP’s Justice, Peace and Reconciliation Officer held a five-day Wau Multiethnic Peace Dialogue with 50 participants from nine tribes, both Christians and Muslims. Following this, NBGIP organized trauma healing training, a multi-ethnic peace dialogue, and a peace conference with rebel forces. A PWRDF grant of $16,000 will help them expand these vital initiatives.
In May of last year, PWRDF supported Rev. William Majok to run a two-day peacebuilding workshop in Wau for 40 local youth. This training focused on enhancing mediation and negotiation skills, empowering youth to promote community healing and peace. Participants learned negotiation basics and mediation techniques, significantly boosting their capacity to foster lasting peace and social cohesion.
PWRDF reports, “Youth participants expressed their appreciation for the opportunity to meet under one roof to discuss the issues and find solutions for peace. Overall, the training had an overwhelmingly positive impact on participants, with many saying they gained much-needed insights and knowledge. Participants also suggested that the wealth of experiences shared during the workshop served as a source of inspiration for cross-cultural cohesion.”
Work like this today acts as seeds of peace for tomorrow. This is just one glimpse of the ongoing work supported by PWRDF Huron. Please continue to partner with us in our vital mission through your contributions and prayers.