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Sudanese Seek Clinic for their homeland
By Renee K. Gadoua
Staff write
Theil travaled from New Jersey to Syracuse this weekend to suport his friends ` effort to builld a health clinic in sudan.
''We really need it. There`s alot of medical crisis there'', Theil said before a mass on Sunday at St.Vincent de Paul Roman Catholic Church in Syracuse. Theil 29, years a student at Rutger University who hopes to become a doctor grew up in the the Northern Bahral-ghazala region of Sudan , a native of the same area as several refugees who settled in Syracuse. The men hope to raise $129,500 to build St.Josephine Bathika clinic, named after a native of Sudan who was kidnapped and sold into slavery in 1877 and cononized in 1992.
About 100 people came in after the reporter left, they included sudanese and refugees from other countries. The number of people who participated is about 200. Refugees living in Syracuse, Rochester,Utica New Jersey and Buffalo New York, attended the service. It included music by the Syracuse children `s Chorus and was followed by reception featuring sudanese and American food, prepared by refugees from several African nations.
Theil`s wife, Aluel Malou and a brother and his f family were at the service. Theil was reunited with his childhood sweetheart , whom he married last year, and ended up in the United States. Theil spoke about his past and his hopes for the future. He alluded to the the struggles he and 20,000 children they faced violence, religious coercion, starvation and disease during Sudan`s 22 years civil war. Although the war is over, people live in difficult circucumstances, he said. '' some are dying because of lack of medical supplies'', he said.
Refugees,including the 4,000 Young men formerly known as the lost boys, are lucky survivors, Theil said .
'' we came here to seek a better life for those whom we left behind '', he said.'' some of us have already to gone home and help.''
In abrief homily the Rev. Wilbur Votraw priased the men`s desire to help friends and family in Southern Sudan.
How to help
Send donations to St. Joseph Bakthika Clinic co/St. Vincent de Paul church,342 vine street,Syracuse New York 13203
Anthony Okelly is very good young man who welcome visitors during the fundraising.
This is a tremendous thing, to get funds to build that clinic to provide help for people who have nothing'', Voyraw said.
Kuac Majok,of Rochester, said it might take 10 hours to drive 45 miles because of the poor condition of roads near the site of the future clinic. St. Bathika would be first health clinic the area in 25 years, he said.
The whole infrastrure has been destoryed'', he said.'' people are starting from scratch''
Garang Amet, of Syracuse and of the project founder, described his affection for St. Bathika who he said has guided him and other lost boys.
''Our beloved christians, friends and victims are weeping for help'', he said
Amet hopes construction will begin in October. Theil who came to the United States in 1999, plans to share his medical skills with the people in Southern Sudan. '' I want to help them '', he said. we are lucky to be here''.
Honorary Committee
Rev.Wilbur
Sr.Joana Baidoo
Rev.Darius
Car M.Oropallo the Lost boys attoney
Msgr.Eugen Yennock
Sr.Roseann Renna
Rev.Friar Phil Kelly
Dr.Faye Mcmahon
Ann Mayes the Lost Boys help for educational scholarship
Committee
Garang Amet the founder
Lino Thou Ajith Mayen Preasident of the Aweil community in New York
Angelo Kiir Vice President of The Aweil Community In New YorK
Lino Mayen Ladies representatives for Aweil Community in New York
Mawien Wol Mawien the finance secretary of the Aweil Community in New York
Kuac Majok Kuac former President of Aweil community in the United States
Kuac`s wife Mrs Achai
Karubino Kang the information secretary of aweil of community in New York
Gaberial Bol the chorus organizer
Dominic Dut committee organizer
Peter Lual Ater committee organizer
Garang Chan Mayen committee organizer
Paulino Langar the Chairman of Aweil community in Syracuse New York
Maduak Kuol Bak the vice Chairman of Aweil Community
and Fidele Diing Than the formre President of Aweil community in New York State
These people plus all Aweil cititezens in New York and friends made this fundraising event a great success.
So far, $15,000 has been rasied and the fundraising activity is ongoing. It is our best hope that this clinic will soon be built at home.
Related Story:
Clinic Sought in Sudan
Monday, March 13, 2006
By Renée K. Gadoua, Staff writer
Garang Amet and Angelo Kiir first heard of Josephine Bakhita in 1992, when the two former Lost Boys of Sudan were living at the Kakuma refugee camp in Kenya.
Pope John Paul II had recently canonized Bakhita, a native of Sudan who was kidnapped and sold into slavery in 1877. Amet and Kiir found inspiration in the story of the woman the Roman Catholic Church later named a saint.
In thanksgiving for their survival, the men, who have lived in Syracuse since 2001, are launching a project to raise $129,500 to build St. Josephine Bakhita Clinic in the Northern Bahr al-Ghazal region of Sudan. A service and celebration Sunday at Syracuse's St. Vincent de Paul Roman Catholic Church will initiate the fundraising.
"I choose her name because of our suffering," Amet said. "Any hard thing you go through and your heart is strong, you will achieve your goal."
Last week, he and Kiir talked about ST. conditions in Sudan and their hopes for the clinic at their home, 354 Green St., Syracuse. Six Sudanese men live in two apartments there. Some of them hope to go to Sudan to help build the clinic.
They are among the estimated 20,000 children who fled violence, religious coercion, starvation and disease during Sudan's 22-year civil war.
About 4,000 of the men who were known as the Lost Boys have relocated to the United States. About 35 people from Amet and Kiir's home town live in the Syracuse and Rochester areas, they said.
While the January 2005 peace accord ended civil war, conditions remain harsh, they said. Poverty, disease and malnutrition are common, they said.
"People live in grass houses with nothing to protect them," Amet said.
During a month long visit in November 2004, Kiir married in Nairobi, Kenya, where his wife, Angong Kuol, lives. Less than a year later, their daughter, Abuk Kiir, was born.
While in Africa, Kiir visited relatives in Sudan, including a brother, Bol Kiir. In August 2005, Bol, 19, died from stomach illness caused by dirty water.
"They tried to give him medicine, but there was no medicine," Kiir said. "They thought he was getting better, but he died." A clinic would offer treatment and provide equipment and chemicals to make the water safe. "It's not my brother only," Kiir said. "I'm worried about the others who are dying."
He and his friends have an obligation, he said. "We are the first people to be educated from Southern Sudan," he said. "When we see the situation back home, even though we are American citizens, we have to help people."
Amet said he has raised less than $5,000. He hopes construction will begin in October and expects it to take six months. He knows his plans are ambitious.
He hopes a letter from the governor of the area will convince potential donors the project has support from Sudanese officials.
Sudanese refugees in Central New York have proposed building at least two other clinics in Sudan. John Dau, of Syracuse, recently visited Duk County, Sudan, where the Central New York-based American Care for Sudan Foundation plans to build a clinic. First Presbyterian Church, in Skaneateles, is supporting that project.
In August, men from Gwalla clan in Sudan who live throughout the United States met at the Reformed Church of Syracuse, 1228 Teall Ave., to discuss plans for a health center.
The need is great, and the proposed clinics are hundreds of miles apart, Amet said.
"We are not in competition," he said.
Amet is optimistic about the clinic; he said St. Bakhita has accompanied him thus far on his long journey from Sudan.
"I pray to her," he said. "I ask her always, Lord, not to take my life before I have completed my mission to help my people."
*Renee K. Gadoua can be reached at rgadoua@syracuse.com or 315-470-2203. Source: Syracuse.com | 
