Treana Sends a Message Home from Alel Chok

February 3, 2012

A Note from Treana: Alel Chok – One Year Later

February 1, 2012

In December 2010, our first water well was drilled in the village of Alel Chok. It was also my first trip to South Sudan and I was overwhelmed by the desperate urgency of the situation. There were so many basic human needs not being met that I doubted we could make any kind of real difference. I was surrounded by intense suffering buried beneath layers of bureaucracy, leaving me to feel inadequate and unprepared for the task before us. Nothing that we had done in other parts of the world could have prepared me for what I saw in South Sudan.

And then I met Zachariah, an elder from the village. We sat together under a tree where he read me passages from the Bible in his native tongue. The water well had just been drilled and we couldn’t communicate with each other through language, but the wisdom in his eyes and passion of his voice spoke to my soul.

Although I couldn’t understand his words, I knew what was in his heart. He brought tears to my eyes as he replenished my spirit with his voice. For the rest of my trip, and after returning home, I often thought of Zachariah whenever I questioned our impact in South Sudan. For me, Zachariah is the face of South Sudan; he is why we do this work.

I returned to Alel Chok this past December and once again I sat with Zachariah beneath the same tree. We were now surrounded by crops and houses while the children were in school. When he offered me the gift of a chicken in thanks for our gift of water, I was humbled and honoured.

We brought water to Zachariah’s village and that matters. The people of Alel Chok matter. We are making a difference.

Giir: A Returnee Home

January 26, 2012

South Sudan is a nation with 70,000 internally displaced returnees.  These people blur the line between refugee and survivor as they return to a land ravaged by civil war.  The joy in returning is that they have a nation to call home.  The challenge is that they must rebuild from the ground up.

The UN refugee agency UNHCR is tasked with the first step in relocating the returnees.  Camps are established to provide temporary settlement; however the need is often far greater than resources can provide.  While these camps fill an urgent demand, the lack of water and sanitation is a potential breeding ground for illness and aggression.

Many families travel for weeks carrying their belongings across difficult terrain, only to settle in a field amongst others awaiting placement.  The Obakki Foundation has been an active partner in the relocation process – drilling clean water wells to accelerate the resettlement of these displaced people.

Today is a day of celebration as the Obakki Foundation has drilled water at the location of a new home – the village is called Giir and it’s first inhabitants are 300 families eager to take root.

Our team takes a snap shots amongst the people and belongings waiting to be transported to their new location.

A Note from Treana: Anticipated Return

January 24, 2012

Happy Holidays

December 22, 2011

We have so many stories from our last trip and we can’t wait to share them with you. We’re taking a brief hiatus to celebrate the holidays and we’ll back in the New Year. Until then, please enjoy this video footage from our visit to South Sudan last December.

A Note from Treana

December 20, 2011

It is hard to believe I will be back on South Sudan soil within 35 hours. This past year has been a whirlwind – actually, more of a hurricane to be truthful.  I haven’t been very good at keeping everyone informed – I guess part of me has been trying to process what I have seen and the other part was trying to figure out what to do about it. A trip to South Sudan and two trips to Cameroon later, here I am.  I am not sure I have found all of the answers that I have been looking for, or that I have been able to accomplish as much as I wished, but I do know one thing.  Change can happen – big or small – it can happen, as long as we take that initial step forward.

I came across my journal from my LAST December trip and wanted to share my very first entry with you.

December 16th, 2010

I am on a plane to Sudan.  Sudan.  I think for the first time in my life, I am actually stuck for words. Usually I have some idea of what to expect, some frame of reference, something to help formulate my thoughts but this time I have nothing.  Sudan is so remote, so hidden, so far away from everything I know.

This morning I took my kids to their West Vancouver school with their lunch kits overflowing with healthy food, and then I took a long hot bath in my house that overlooks the ocean.  After, my husband and I went for lunch together at a great downtown restaurant and agreed upon a family vacation to Mexico in the New Year. Later after I picked up the kids, we watched in fascination as our stick-bug eggs hatched while we ate gingerbread cookies. Ironic.

Tomorrow I wake up in a country destroyed by 40 years of civil war, 2 million people brutally killed and another 4 million people displaced.  Where children and mothers are dying of thirst and tribes are fighting to death over access to basic needs. Oil and water run deep and plentiful beneath the ground yet above ground there is so much suffering and destruction. A country raised on violence, forgotten by the rest of the world.

What am I doing on a plane traveling to Sudan?  I have asked myself the same question and I do not know the answer. Ever since I first heard of Sudan, I have felt a pull. I can’t explain it, I just now that I am meant to go here.  I don’t choose these places, the places choose me, of that I am certain.  Perhaps I will find out on this trip?  Already I feel my soul start to engage, my heavy heart start to lift as I get closer and closer….

We have come a long way since I wrote this (over 100 water wells drilled!!!), thanks to all of your support!!! Sometimes we accept these adventures in life, without knowing their outcome. Not only do I look forward to what this new trip may hold, I look forward to sharing it with all of you.

Images into Action

December 13, 2011

There are pictures that gnaw at our soul and convert us from apathy into action.

This provoking image was taken by renowned photojournalist Brian Sokol and is a stark reminder there are children within this world that see safety as a dream. Brian has spent the last decade in Asia documenting the Nepalese fight for independence and in now in South Sudan to capture the humanitarian crisis occurring as you read this.  While in Sudan, Brian will be working with the Obakki foundation to document the people’s story so we can work to change it. These images will be showcased on the blog to document our work and we hope they inspire you as much as they do us.

Sudanese Travels

December 8, 2011

With excitement we announce Treana arrived back in Africa last week to focus on Sudanese water projects!

Over the year, this region has been a global focal point as South Sudan gained independence and became the world’s newest country.  The people’s independence has provided renewed hope and we foresee this time as being one of tremendous growth and inspiration.

As health is essential for growth, our first job in Sudan is to drill as many clean water wells as possible. During the next few weeks, Treana will be there to oversee well development, connect with the people and share their stories with us.

We hope you are looking forward to these stories as much as we are!

Gratitude and Appreciation

December 6, 2011

We want to express a heartfelt thank you to everyone who supported the Rainmaker Auction.

Every dollar of every donation is currently making its way to the people of Sudan for much needed water relief.  This relief will come in the form of wells, which we are preparing to drill in the coming weeks.  As these wells are created and clean water is delivered, we expect to see an immediate and profound difference in the Sudanese communities we support.  Each glass of clean water delivered will evolve the landscape of these communities. With the expansion of access to clean water, comes the opportunity for future developments including education and healthcare. It is those developments that we eagerly anticipate providing you in the coming weeks.

Small World

November 21, 2011

To think that you could catch a plane and land in a place that is completely unrecognizable and dissimilar to the life you live. At the same time there are many similarities. We are all connected simply by humanity.  It’s a small world after all.