Members of US GEMS Team Visit South Sudan

Lance Martin, President of GEMS, and Heather Olsen, GEMS Vice President of Operations, recently traveled to South Sudan to assess the impact of GEMS programs. The trip included time in the capital city of Juba, and various towns and villages in Northern Bahr El Ghazal State.  Working with GEMS South Sudan Executive Director, Angelo Marac, and Field Operations Director, Luka Garang Kenyang, GEMS worked to measure the impact of clean water, food security, agricultural, and medical projects.

While visiting GEMS well sites, South Sudanese women shared how difficult it is for them to get clean water for their families every day. Many had walked over an hour to get to the well site from their village, and they need to make that trip multiple times a day to get enough water for their families, livestock, and agriculture. It’s incredible to see their strength as they carry several gallons of water on their heads!

Prior to the teams arrival, two sorghum distributions had been organized and carried out by Field Operations Director Luka Garang Kenyang. At risk families had been registered to receive a month’s supply of sorghum to stave off starvation and avoid the risks of severe malnutrition. The most vulnerable to hunger are pregnant and nursing mothers, the elderly and those with physical limitations. The people participating in this program were so grateful to have food during this time of food scarcity.

The team also visited Angor Chuei Primary School, where GEMS had previously installed a well and given donated goats to 300 students. Speaking with the parents of those students, they learned how the goats impacted their lives. Parents explained that they were able to use the goat milk to provide extra nutrition for their children and were also able to purchase school uniforms from the money they made from breeding the goats.

A large amount of the trip was spent touring medical facilities in Aweil, South County, where Dr. Joseph Giir, former GEMS Medical School Scholarship Recipient, is the Director of Public Health. We saw hardworking healthcare professionals working in very difficult conditions, doing what they could to provide healing and relief despite a lack of adequate medicine or supplies. We received a list of much needed medical equipment from these facilities, some of which can be purchased from our GEMS Medical Supply Wish List on Amazon here.

Your donation dollars can be seen at work in these pictures- in the food, in the clean water, in the medical supplies, and in the education of the healthcare workers. Our projects are relieving suffering and having a long-lasting impact on the lives of the people of South Sudan.  Can you help us to keep doing these programs?

WAYS YOUR GIFT CAN HELP:

$15- Clean Water for one person for a lifetime.

$30- Food for 1 week for a family

$65- Birthing Kit that helps prevent infection and complications.

$75- Goat that provides nutrition and economic opportunity

$100- Blood Pressure Monitor and Glucometer for a clinic