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Help the Sudanese feed their families forever...
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Sudan has been ravaged by civil war for the past 25 years. From Darfur in the west, to the mountainous Southern Sudan and in desert sands of the north, a generation of Sudanese have depended heavily on food distributed by NGOs, the UN and government agencies.
But to break the cycle of poverty, these families need the access to financial services, the capital and the skills to generate a sustainable income that will not only provide for their families, but also build communities as well.
The region of Bahr al Ghazal in the southwest portion of Southern Sudan is so remote that many areas are inaccessible during the rainy season. Few westerners venture into Bahr el Ghazal, even fewer relief and development groups attempt to work in the area. The lack of existing commerce and infrastructure in Bahr al Ghazal have kept most aid organizations away. While micro-lending programs are underway in the larger regional capitals of Southern Sudan such as Juba, Bahr al Ghazal is considered too remote, too primitive, and too poor for empowerment assistance.
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But GBA and its Sudanese partnering agency, International Aid Services (IAS), do not subscribe to this viewpoint. In fact, our mandate is to take Enterprise Relief and our empowerment opportunities to areas of the world in the greatest need of assistance – and Bahr al Ghazal certainly qualifies.
But how does one work in a region where others are reluctant to get involved? Not without determination, commitment, funding, and an action plan for success. Beginning in early 2009, GBA has begun to implement, with the assistance of IAS, the very micro-lending programs that are so successful to date in Ghana. Through the use of trained IAS staff on the ground in Bahr al Ghazaal and cutting edge web-based micro-lending administrative tools currently under development by GBA, this “untouched” region will soon receive its empowerment opportunity.
GBA's Sudan Challenge campaign will provide investment capital and business training for hundreds of Sudanese entrepreneurs...mothers and fathers who will work hard to start their own businesses. Often all they need is the equivalent of $100 to get started, or to take an existing, struggling business to the next level. With these micro-loans, these families can increase their inventory for their roadside shops -- and generate more revenue. They can purchase the livestock they need -- chickens for stewing or for egg production, goats for milk and cheese. They can obtain the equipment and tools they need to serve their communities as carpenters, mechanics, or electricians.
GBA also provides funds for related critical community development projects, including providing water wells, support for schools and education, and creating access to financial services. These projects play a vital role in enabling entire communities to gain the stability needed for families to not only survive, but thrive.
Three ways you can invest
In 2006 GBA initiated, in cooperation with the Chicago Marathon, the Sudan Challenge. The Sudan Challenge is GBA’s primary tool to raise funding for and awareness of our micro-enterprise programs in Sudan and other needy regions. Dozens of runners over the last several years have volunteered their time and talent to run for GBA in this worthy cause to raise more than $90,000 for micro-enterprise empowerment. Your support of GBA’s Sudan Challenge will provide needed assistance to GBA’s ongoing efforts, not only in Sudan, but also in bordering African communities as well. We thank you in advance for your involvement.
1 Become a fund-raising runner in the Bank of America Chicago Marathon. By running on the GBA Sudan Challenge Team, you can effectively recruit others to join you as they sponsor your efforts as you train and complete this challenging race. For just the equivalent of a few lattes, just a few individuals in your social network can help you achieve your goal as you run for a reason: to help Sudan's poor help themselves. Click here to go to the Sudan Challenge Team page
2 Contribute to the fund-raising efforts of our Sudan Challenge team in the Bank of America Chicago Marathon. Demonstrate your support for those who are spending weeks in training to complete this celebrated marathon on behalf of Sudan's poor!
3 Become an (Ad)venture Capitalist An (Ad)venture Capitalist is a volunteer who leverages their business experience and entrepreneurial passions to empower entrepreneurs among the world's poorest communities.
Choose how you'd like to be involved, and contact us today!
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Click here to contribute to the
fund-raising efforts of one of
our runners in the 2009
Bank of America Chicago Marathon
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