Salva Dut and Dep Tuany have returned home after an extraordinarily successful drilling season, and Ater Thiep will soon follow.  

Thanks to the generosity and commitment of supporters, this year’s Water for Sudan drilling season in Southern Sudan was the most productive to date. Water for Sudan's mission continues to be drilling wells in remote villages, but this year we added another dimension to our work.

Water for Sudan collaborated with the Government of Southern Sudan (GoSS) to help speed the return of thousands of Sudanese refugees to Southern Sudan from Uganda, Kenya, Ethiopia, and Northern Sudan.  Our teams drilled in locations mutually chosen by GoSS, village elders, and Salva. GoSS-funded construction of housing and schools for returnees followed the wells we drilled. UNICEF and Doctors without Borders will soon build clinics in some of these locations.

Update from Board Chair Christopher Moore

At the June Board meeting, Christopher Moore shared his recent experience and learning from attending The American Friends of the Episcopal Church of Sudan (AFRECS) Annual Conference June 4 to 6, 2010 in Alexandria, Virginia. The conference focused on the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) and prospects for peace in Sudan. One of the speakers was Alan Goulty, the UK’s Ambassador to Sudan from 1995 to 1999, and the UK’s Special Representative for Sudan from 2002 to 2004.

   
Sudanese supporters of the south's SPLM party wave the southern flag during tensions before April's elections © Peter Martell/IRINMoore reviewed some of the main challenges of preparing for the January 2011 referendum when Southern Sudanese will vote on whether to remain part of Sudan or become the world’s newest nation. Issues presented and discussed included — how is eligibility to register to vote being determined; are Sudanese-Americans eligible; are Southern Sudanese living in Northern Sudan eligible?  What about those in refugee camps in other countries?  

Moore described the potential for the Khartoum government in northern Sudan to reject referendum results as invalid if these issues are not completely resolved in advance of the referendum. He also noted the potential for unrest should the referendum not go smoothly and the results not be recognized.  
 
It is widely expected by authorities on Sudan that Southern Sudanese will vote for independence by a margin of six to one.  The CPA specifies a six month transition period after the referendum until independence actually occurs. Water for Sudan will be closely monitoring the political situation in the months ahead and preparing for the referendum outcome and transition. According to Moore, “The safety of Water for Sudan’s crew, equipment, and our donors' investment is paramount.  The 2011 drilling season is not written in stone. If we are drilling and something happens we will be prepared to move out, as far as Uganda if necessary.”

“What you are doing is incredible."

During the AFRECS conference, Moore met with Gary Imhoff, a Director from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

Imhoff told Moore, “What you are doing is incredible.  There are very few organizations that have been able to accomplish what you’ve done.”  Moore thanked him and replied, “We want to do more.  How can we become more effective?”  

The USAID Director said to seek out partnerships with other like organizations and make proposals for joint projects — such as water, sanitation, schools, and medical clinics. With Water for Sudan leading, the proposals have a very good chance of being funded, Imhoff said. Creating these partnerships and joint proposals will be a major focus starting now for Moore and the WFS Board.

Water for Sudan in the News:

Water for Sudan was featured in June's United Nations Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) magazine.  UNMIS was created by the UN Security Council to support the implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement.

The story features Salva drilling a well in Alap village in Western Bahr El-Ghazal.  

Download the article here.

Download the complete issue here.
 Water for Sudan President Salva Dut giving instructions at Alap drilling site. © Eszter Farkas/UNMIS
 

The Prem Rawat Foundation strives to address fundamental human needs so that people's lives are transformed, allowing them to live their lives with dignity, peace, and prosperity.  Monies from this grant will be used to drill fresh water wells in Southern Sudan. The award is directed for the building of three well systems including installation materials, equipment, tools, and well maintenance.  The wells will be drilled in the Wau Region of Southern Sudan, an area of concentrated population.

"We are most grateful for the generosity of the Prem Rawat Foundation," says Salva Dut.  "They are helping Water for Sudan provide these destitute people one of the most basic human needs for life — clean water."

Prem RawatThe Los Angeles, California-based Prem Rawat Foundation (TPRF) works to extend the outreach of founder Prem Rawat's message of peace throughout the world. TPRF also provides aid for people in urgent need of life-sustaining resources like food and water, especially in areas where funds from larger foundations may not be available.

Born in India and widely known by the honorary title Maharaji, Prem Rawat founded The Prem Rawat Foundation in 2001.  His message of peace is now available in 97 countries and 70 languages. Learn more about Prem Rawat's vision and his foundation.

The three fresh water systems funded by The Prem Rawat Foundation will be installed in the November, 2010 through May, 2011 drilling season in Southern Sudan.  "By bringing clean, potable water to these families," says Salva Dut, "basic health is improved.  Fresh, safe water combats cholera and other water-borne diseases."  Salva's determination to use his education to help the people in his homeland has come to fruition.

Ater Thiep and team first drilled in Wau town in Western Bahr-al-Ghazal State, then moved outside of Wau and finished their second well in Warrap state.  They have since finished their seventh well.

Salva Dut has been managing supply chains, vendor relationships, and supervising various repairs, to keep both teams running as efficiently as possible.

Communication from our teams in Southern Sudan is sporadic, but here is a chronological set of updates starting on Christmas Day 2009.

December 25, 2009

From Board member John Turner - relaying a phone update from Salva Dut

Merry Christmas to All,

This morning at 7 the phone rang with mostly great news...the bad first...Salva is feeling awful with up and down intestinal events. I am sure he is exhausted because this is what he has accomplished.

Salva is in Wau having brought the huge trailer from Kampala with 25 sets of pumps and various casings and stored them in our compound. The out-of-service truck has been fully repaired and Team A with the trailer rig is set to start drilling in two days.  I'm sure that this is the "tip of the iceberg" on what he has been doing.

Salva wished all of us a Merry Christmas...I said the same from us and gave him our congratulations and to get all the rest he can.

December 29, 2009

Dear all,

I apologize to all of you for not sending you a Merry Christmas email. Happy late Merry Christmas and New Year. I didn't get a chance to celebrate Christmas this year because I was a little bit sick with diarrhea, fever and vomiting. I had medicines and I am now really good.

These photos are for Team A preparation to begin 2010 drilling season.  The big blue truck delivered the Team A supplies.  They are ready to go. I am in there too in the middle bent down.

I was busy setting up Team A in Wau while I was waiting for Ater to take over and then I can concentrate fully with Team B. The whole supplies reached Team A including pipes and casings.

Team A started drilling yesterday in Wau town and they will move outside of Wau when they finish that first well.

The bad news for them is that their welding generator broke down completely after we fixed it with hope that will last this season. They need another welding generator which will cost about $3,000 US. I need approval on that. They can't do much without welding generator because the break down is constant and they need it as soon as possible.

Blessings, Salva Dut

January 7, 2010

Dear all,

Team A finished their second well today. Now they drilled 2 wells within 2 weeks and I hope they will continue like that without break down. They just need welding generator and hopefully they will move on smoothly.

One well was drilled in Wau area which is Western Bahr-al-Ghazal State. The second, I think was drilled in Warrap state in a village call Manyiel.

Thanks and blessings, Salva Dut

January 28, 2010

Dear all,

I just talked with Dep few minutes ago. They are in a place called Mathiang or Longochok. He said they will start drilling tomorrow right in Mathiang. They will go from there to Maiwut, Ulang and Nasir.

Blessings, Salva Dut

February 12, 2010

Dear all,

I just arrived to Gambella, Ethiopia few hours ago looking for spare parts. Hopefully we will be back after two days. Team A is going to finish well number 7 and hopefully things will continue well with them.

Thank you very much and God bless, Salva Dut

February 25, 2010

Hello there Team Water for Sudan,

It has been such a long time without access to internet to send updates and some of the photos for your review of drilling. This is the number one borehole drilled in Mathiang Boriak-Malow Payam or village.  We're moving all equipment to Uleng villages.

Yours, Dep Tuany



I got a chance to visit Abilnyang while I was collecting Team A workers from their villages.  I was amazed to see the improvement they had there.  They built four classes with thatched grass, storage for books, blackboards, veterinary hut for treating their animals, and the market is thriving.

The hand pump is working well and never broke down. It is working twenty four hours a day because southern Sudan didn't get much rain this year and many people moved closer to the well.  

The hand pump is working

24 hours a day.

The school has 62 students who are regularly attending. Two teachers are teaching the entire school.  The level is primary A and B in two different classes.

The thing that amazed me most in Abilnyang was the young man that was missing his arm.  I met him at the hand pump holding his book and he was reading.  And when I got out of the car he ran to me immediately with other people that were there when we were drilling.  I asked him what he is doing.

He knew his life would change.

 He said he is reading and attending this school.  He said that he knew from the day we were drilling a well that his life will change. He said he will hold a big office someday when he becomes educated, because he can't cultivate much or do other things because of his arm.

Abilnyang is one good example of Water for Sudan's seed planting.  And the entire capital city of Warrap State is firmly standing strongly and progressing well because of the ten wells we put there in the town that used to drink from the hand dug wells. I was happy to see many lives changing because of all our hard work, including children, churches, foundations, individuals, and friends that are working hard behind the scenes all these years.  

Thank you all very much and I wish you all the best and hope our health continues well to do more for those needy and innocent people.

Blessings,

Salva Dut

Monies from this grant will help purchase equipment and supplies for Water for Sudan’s 2010 efforts in the desolate areas of Southern Sudan, which are already underway.

 “We are very appreciative of this generous support of The William H. Donner Foundation,” says Salva Dut. “We thank them for their confidence in us in fulfilling our mission this year.”

William H. DonnerBased in New York City, the Trustees and Officers of The William H. Donner Foundation have held steadfast to two key philanthropic principles of the founder — acceptance of clearly defined risks and the judicious use of incentive grants to advance thoughtful, creative projects.

Although it is almost five decades since the passing of William H. Donner, the breadth of vision and the willingness to take risks that characterized his business and philanthropic careers are fittingly memorialized in The William H. Donner Foundation.

2010 Drilling Season Begins

Drill team leaders Salva Dut, Ater Thiep and Dep Tuany have a lot to accomplish long before a drill bites into the ground.  Salva and Ater arrived in Kampala, Uganda near the Southern Sudanese border in mid November. They're busy securing spare parts, fuel, and supplies and hiring the drilling team members. Many of the engineers, drivers and workers return to the team year after year.

Dep will soon travel to join Salva. This year, Salva anticipates drilling a maximum number of wells in remote parts of Southern Sudan, including the Upper Nile region where some of Dep's family still resides. "It is home to many Southern Sudanese who immigrated to the San Diego community," says Dep. "We will install fresh water pumps in my homeland."

Ater will lead the transport of supplies to Water for Sudan's compound in the Bahr al Gahzal region of Southern Sudan to complete preparations for drilling. Weather permitting, under Ater's leadership Team A will begin drilling in early January.  Similarly, Salva and Dep plan to begin drilling in the Upper Nile region in early 2010.

“We’ll drill dozens of wells” says Salva. “With no unforeseen difficulties, we are very confident of our success in drilling to our capacity.”

November 2009

Fibertech Networks is a leader in building and operating fiber optic networks throughout mid-size cities in the Eastern and Central regions of the United States.

Twice each year, the company, headquartered in Rochester, NY, gathers employees together for a meeting to share company performance and inspire people with presentations by outside speakers, such as an advertising executive who climbed Mt. Everest.

 "The company's goal with these meetings," says Mike Hurley, VP of Sales and Marketing, "is to motivate people to overcome barriers, be persistent and make a difference, not just for our customers but for our community."  That sentiment sums up the company's operating philosophy where CEO and founder John Purcell and his management team lead by example.

So when Hurley learned of Salva Dut and his work, he knew that Salva's story would be perfect to share with the employees of Fibertech. He asked Dan Clifton, the company's Director of Marketing, to put it together. Salva was engaged to speak at the company's summer 2009 meeting. But it didn't stop there.

Homework for everyone

With the thoroughness that characterizes the company, employees were prepared for Salva's visit. Clifton purchased and distributed to all employees a story called They Poured Fire on Us From the Sky, about Sudan's civil war that chronicles life as "Lost Boys of Sudan."

"The idea was to give everyone a grounding in the story of the 'Lost Boys.' We felt it important to educate everyone on the story to help put into perspective the type of situation faced by Salva and others when they were just young kids," says Clifton. "I have two boys, ten and six years old. The plight of these children from Sudan hit home and I couldn't imagine my boys surviving that type of experience."

So when Salva spoke to the 200 Fibertech employees, they had already done their homework.

Fibertech connects with Water for Sudan

Salva, after showing the film "Just Add Water," and speaking about his life and work, answered questions.  Salva was asked by CEO Purcell what the company could do to help. Purcell then spontaneously pledged the company to support Water for Sudan in the drilling of a well. That response reflected how the plight of Southern Sudan's people and Salva's entrepreneurial leadership resonated with the Fibertech community.
The company provided Salva with a banner to photograph at the well site when it's completed. Clifton also plans to post a link and map on the Fibertech website in the future so employees can stay in touch with Water for Sudan's progress.

"Salva touched a lot of people on so many levels,"

says Clifton. "Many employees have stopped me in the hallway since, commenting on how Salva has touched their lives. From not taking things for granted to saying things like 'He's inspired me to think I can do anything,' Salva's message still resonates long after his speech ended."

At Fibertech Networks, they know what it means to connect the local with the global to make a difference for people.

September 21, 2009

On Monday evening, September 21st, Water for Sudan, Inc., hosted its annual community event at the Eastman House's Dryden Theatre in Rochester, New York. The free event included video highlights from this year's Southern Sudan drilling season, recognition for outstanding supporters, and a panel discussion on key issues affecting Southern Sudan. The DreamSeeds dance and drumming youth group energized the audience with their performances which opened and ended the evening.

The panel discussion was moderated by Angelique Stevens, Water for Sudan Board member and Monroe Community College professor. Panelists included Salva Dut, president of Water for Sudan and Field operations leader; Alephonsion Deng, Sudanese-American, a former "Lost Boy of Sudan", award-winning co-author of They Poured Fire on Us From the Sky; JB Manin, scholar, lawyer, activist; John Turner, Water for Sudan's COO and; Nancy Reinert, Water for Sudan Board member.

Each panelist shared views and experience related to water as a basic human right, the need in Southern Sudan, and the environmental, cultural and political challenges in meeting that need. Listen to the panel discussion.

An audience of 200 plus asked questions and recorded comments such as:

"Very informative evening - many thanks!"

"It's an honor to be a small part of Water for Sudan's celebration of life through water."

"Thank you for tonight! Inspiring and thought provoking."

Listen to audience Q&A.

The event was not a fund-raiser but at the St. Paul's Episcopal Church Hall reception which followed, two gift checks totaling  $12,500 were presented to Salva and Board Chair Chris Moore; one from fundraising
by First Congregational Church of Riga, New York, and another by Bonnie Lloyd of Rochester whose gift honors her granddaughter. 

Alephonsion Deng and his co-author Judy Bernstein signed dozens of copies of They Poured Fire on Us From the Sky.

Panel discussion and Q&A were recorded and are available:

Download MP3 recording of Panel Discussion (37 minutes, 17MB)

Download MP3 recording of Audience Q&A (12 minutes, 6MB)

June 2009

Thanks to the generosity and commitment of supporters, this year’s Water for Sudan drilling season in Southern Sudan was the most productive to date. It was marked with several firsts including a new drilling team as well as familiar and new challenges.

The two teams combined to drill 14 new wells, the highest number in a single Water for Sudan season. 2009’s wells bring the total number of successful wells drilled since 2005 to 43. Those wells mean safe, drinkable water is now flowing to tens of thousands of people in remote Southern Sudanese villages.

Ater Thiep continued leading Team A, who overcame early technical issues to drill 13 new wells in the Bahr-al-Ghazal area, in western Southern Sudan. That area is where Water for Sudan has been operating since its initial 2005 drilling season. Later in the season, Ater was joined by Salva Dut who, along with Dep Tuany, assembled and led the new drilling team, Team B.

Early success for new team

Team B became Water for Sudan’s second drilling operation and the first to drill in Southern Sudan's eastern states. Setting up Team B was initiated by Dep with support from Burl Jordan and fellow members of the Rancho Santa Fe Club of Rotary International. The team’s equipment featured a brand-new truck-mounted drilling rig which provides greater drilling power than smaller, towed drill rigs.

This year, the new team’s ultimate operating area was to be Maiwut County, Dep’s birthplace, near the Ethiopian border in Southern Sudan’s Upper Nile state, where many of his family still live.

In early March, working together for the first time to field test equipment, the team completed its first borehole well in Malek, a small village outside of Bor. They then began the 600-mile journey to Maiwut in the northeast.

That arduous journey over nearly impassable rutted dirt roads at an average speed of 10 to 15 miles per hour tested the new team's perseverance and ingenuity. They battled not only the expected challenges but also a range of new obstacles, including support truck breakdowns.

Unexpected obstacles

Ultimately, Team B reached Maiwut, but with limited supplies and drilling rods due to the loss of the largest support truck. The aquifer in that area is at a greater depth than in Bahr-al-Ghazahl, so the lack of sufficient drilling rods, combined with inadequate surface water needed for drilling due to being late in the dry season, meant no wells could be drilled in Maiwut this year. However, Team B’s effort and learning has positioned Water for Sudan to fulfill its commitments to the people in Maiwut. Most necessary supplies and equipment are in place for next year’s season, stored with the local government commissioners and villagers.

Overall, it was another Water for Sudan drilling season that accomplished much. The reach and impact of the organization was expanded as 14 more wells were successfully completed. A new team and area of operation were added. New challenges were confronted and lessons learned by both teams, their leaders, and the entire organization.

The results are a foundation for operations in the upcoming season and the years ahead.

March 2009

The 5th World Water Forum was held March 16th through 22nd in Istanbul, Turkey. The World Water Forum, held every three years, is organized by the World Water Council in close collaboration with the authorities of the hosting country. According to the Council, the Forum is the largest international event in the field of water. 

The Forum provides an opportunity for discussion and collaboration among water experts, governments and non-governmental organizations who focus on water-related issues affecting millions around the world.

This year, Water for Sudan, Inc., was selected to be a candidate for the Forum's prestigious Kyoto Prize. The Prize honors an individual or organization for, in the words of the award's subtitle, "Contributing to the Millennium Development Goals through grassroots initiatives." The award is recognition of the recipient's grassroots-level work toward addressing critical water needs of communities and regions.

John Turner, Water for Sudan's Chief Operating Officer and Board member, represented the organization at the Forum and presented the Water for Sudan story to the Forum's global audience. Such presentations by all candidates are part of the award process.

Although ultimately not selected for the Prize, "It was a great honor and opportunity for such a young, small organization like ours," says John. "To be part of such a global event, to get the chance to share the work we're doing in partnership with the Southern Sudanese people, can only help our mission."