Recent Trip to Wangulei

Friends of ACDA recently returned from Wangulei, Southern Sudan. For details and photos of their trip visit: www.bike4sudan.com. Click on "Visit to Sudan Blog."

Upcoming Events

Dear friends of the Sudanese,

On behalf of the Sudanese Community Association of Illinois (SCAI), I would like to cordially invite you, your family, and friends to our biggest celebration of the year, scheduled for January 4, 2009, at Truman College at 1145 W. Wilson Avenue in Chicago, at 2:00pm. Illinois Sudanese residents are having this Sudanese celebration to commemorate the Lost Boys’ birthdays, Sudan’s Independence Day, the New Year, and to reflect on the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement, which ended decades of war between South and North. Speakers will include the Chicago Bulls forward Luol Deng, Co-chair of the Enough Project John Prendergast, Olympic flag bearer Lopez Lomong, and women’s inspirational speaker Aduei Riak.

Our celebration will kick off the night before on Saturday with Lost Boys and their friends celebrating New Year and Birthdays at the Ethiopian Diamond Restaurant located at 6120 N. Broadway in Chicago, from 10:00pm to 2:00pm. One of the Sudanese musicians, Dynamq, will be performing.

Since many of you will be celebrating Christmas and New Year with family and friends, I ask that you extend our invitation to them as well.

Thank you all for the support you have given us through the year 2008 and I look forward to a New Year rich in love, peace, unity, and progress.

Happy Christmas and New Year!!

Sincerely,
Peter Magai Bul
President, Ayual Community Development Association

ACDA President Peter Magai Bul to Appear on Oprah

As new United States citizens, "Lost Boys of Sudan" Peter Magai Bul and Kuek Aleu Garang will be voting for the first time in this year's election. Oprah will feature their experience as first time voters on her show on election day. Tune in on Tuesday, 4 November to see Peter and Kuek along with their guests: former NBA Legend Manute Bol, Malual Mayol Awak (President of the Sudanese Community Association of Illinois), John Dut Kuol (Board Member, Chicago Association for the Lost Boys of Sudan), and Onam Liduba (Acting President, CALBOS). Check local listings to find when Oprah plays in your area.

This Year's Trip to Southern Sudan

Following up on last year’s assessment trip, many Ayual community members and friends will travel to Southern Sudan this upcoming November and December. Those traveling include ACDA state representatives David Yak Mayen, John Mading Dut, and Angok Manyuon, former president of ACDA David Biar Gak, former board chairman of ACDA Deng Wal Biar, current deputy board chairman of ACDA Jim Thompson, ACDA members Jima Bul Magiir, Malith Bul Ajak, Bul Deng Bul, and friends of ACDA Craig and Colin Sternagel, Ariahna Jones, and Susan Gordon.

Some of the projects planned for this year’s trip include continued assessment, evaluation of the health clinic and building progress, and providing materials for the continued success of Pongborong Primary School, including cooking materials for the five cooks who prepare food for the children, bicycles for teachers, and school supplies.

Thank You to Eliza Mozer

Eliza Mozer has raised over $7,500 for the ACDA!

Our heartfelt thank you to Eliza Mozer, her parents, Karen and Jordan, and her younger sisters, Chloe and Isabel, for their tremendous efforts in fundraising for the ACDA. Eliza’s Mitzvah fundraising project has touched many people’s hearts in a way that will never be forgotten. In addition to raising awareness and funds for Pongborong Primary School in Southern Sudan, Eliza has also inspired people of all ages, giving them the courage, energy, and commitment to make a difference in their communities and beyond.

Our deep appreciation also goes to all the people, mostly from the Jewish Community, who supported Eliza by generously donating funds to her fundraising effort. Special thanks, also, to the Wisconsin-based Jewish Community Foundation, who are also contributing. Their support of Eliza’s Pongborong Primary School project will not only have impact on the education of Sudanese chlidren, but on all young people who helped make this fundraising effort a success. This project is a reminder that everything is possible.

Eliza’s overall goal is to raise $10,000. If you want to help her toward that goal or learn more about her project, visit her website: http://www.firstgiving.com/elizamozer

A New Alliance to Rebuild Southern Sudan

September 20-21st about 40 Sudanese Lost Boys and their American friends representing more than 15 US-based non profit organizations rebuilding Southern Sudan gathered in Rochester, New York for the first time to discuss the formation of an alliance. ACDA president Peter Magai Bul helped to coordinate this effort and he, along with Brandi Reissenweber, attended this meeting to lay the groundwork for the alliance.

Individually, many of the organizations involved have already made a real impact in Southern Sudan. ACDA has helped establish and support Pongborong Primary School. The John Dau Sudan Foundation has built and runs a hospital in Duk County. Water for Sudan has drilled new boreholes providing clean water in several communities in Southern Sudan. Working together, however, we can make an even larger impact, providing the framework of primary and secondary school education, clean water, better access to health care and developing agricultural programs.

Read more at RNews: Rochester Sends Hope to Sudan

Relief in Haiti

A friend of ACDA has asked us to help spread the word about support needed in hurricane relief efforts in Haiti. If you want to learn more and help, read this letter from the Haitian Congress to Fortify Haiti.