St. John’s South Sudan Ministry

By Karen Puckett

Walk for Wisdom: District-wide effort raises 20% of funds needed for Water Well at South Sudanese School. $2500 of donations for this event came from St. John’s Endowment fund. $2000 was applied directly to the well project, and $500 was applied to prizes at the “Refugee Student Art Show.”

Global service learning has the potential to combine elements of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) with problem-solving skills by enabling students to develop collaborative and critical-thinking skills that can make a positive difference in the world. In April, several local schools partnered in the Walk for Wisdom service learning opportunity and raised almost $4500 for a borehole at the Nyarweng primary school in Ruweng State, South Sudan (Africa).

The Walk for Wisdom is a school-based global education effort developed through a partnership between locally based nonprofit Sudan Rowan and Charlotte-based nonprofit, Mothering Across Continents. The Walk for Wisdom supports education and literacy for both the students who are engaging in the service project, and students overseas who are receiving funds that provide classrooms, teachers, textbooks, meals, and water wells.

North Rowan Middle School, North Rowan High School, Rowan Early College, and St. John’s Education Ministry partner, Isenberg Elementary all participated in this opportunity where local schools incorporate global learning into the classroom — helping to empower the next generation of global citizen leaders. Isenberg’s K-Kids (Kiwanis Kids) helped assist with events such as an April 5 student art show entitled “Refugees” at the South Main Book Company and the district-wide walk at the Hurley YMCA on April 13. Special guests and former “Lost Boys of Sudan,” Ngor Kur Mayol and Chol Makuachlung attended both events.

All of Isenberg’s students participated in and raised funds through a Global Spirit Week and unity event on the school track on April 12.

The Raising South Sudan partnership thanks St. John’s Lutheran Church and the Salisbury Kiwanis for the sponsorship of these fundraising events.

Donations for St. John’s South Sudan ministry may be made directly to the church with “Sudan Rowan” in the memo line or sent to Sudan Rowan, 576 Adrian Road, Salisbury, NC  28146. Sudan Rowan is a nonprofit 501(c)3 corporation.