More than a decade ago, refugees from Southern Sudan came together in Portland to form ASERELA, which means Action for Self Reliance. With your help and that of many others, they held fund raising events, such as the Feast for the Children, and sent money to their family and friends who were in the Kiryondongo refugee camp in Uganda. Through hard labor, the bricks became a school, the first permanent structure in the camp.

Originally the school provided class rooms and a hot meal for the kindergartners, but soon the school had to be expanded as the parents begged for school opportunities for their other children. Camp workers built desks, built storerooms, added on to the school, and still the school rooms could not hold all the children.

And then a peace agreement…a tentative peace agreement at last, after more than forty years of war between the Sudanese government and the people in Southern Sudan.

Now Southern Sudan calls home her people.

The Kiryondongo camp in Uganda closed, the school stands empty. The people walk or ride, in a hurry to see their new homesites.

The government has provided a specific site for the new town and new school—an area about the size of Portland. Once the school is built, the people will want their homes near the school. The ground is fertile, and the people are farmers! The lush green trees and shrubs provide shade and materials for building new homes.

The challenge is not new to you. We need to help build a new school! Yes, the tin roof from the Kiryojndongo camp and the desks and the supplies can be moved to the new site. Workers are building bricks at the new site as you are reading this letter, but it will take many workers many hours to make all the new bricks and build the school. The Kiryondongo school housed over 400 children, so the new school must accommodate at least that many, with options for expansion.

What would we do if our children needed a school? The children of Southern Sudan are our children.

The children’s choir and dancers are preparing a special treat for you.

We will be awarding the first annual ASERELA award.

We will have pictures of the new school site in Southern Sudan

Please bring all your friends and family to the annual Feast for the Children.

Date: Saturday, April 5, 2008

Time: 5:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

Where: Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Portland, ME

Tickets: $15 for adults (remember that delicious Sudanese food!!)

Table of 8; $150

Children 12 and under free

Child Care available

Call 207 774-3314 for more information.

Please buy your tickets in advance by calling 207 7743314 or mail to ASERELA Maine at PO Box 7782 Portland ME 04112 ochira12 [at] yahoo [dot] com