South Sudan Charity Blog

Mother’s Day In 80 Countries

Mother’s Day is May 13th in 80 countries around the world. Mothers give us the courage to dream BIG. So do teachers, neighbors, friends, and mentors. Hope Ofiriha gives you the chance to empower these nurturers to dream big for them-selves and help the future generation realize their potential. This May, honor someone who nurtured you by giving them a chance to nurture someone else. Here’s why. Empowering all Women: Women make up the vast majority of the World’s poor (over 75% of the 1… Read More

May 4, 2012 by William Logai Ochieng Tags: May 13, mother's day, south sudanese women, women worldwide

Stand Up With Millions For World Water Day

Join us as we celebrate clean water and raise awareness for nearly one billion people without water. When you donate your voice on Facebook or Twitter, you will stand up with millions of others this year in the name of clean water for all. Next Thursday, March 22, is World Water Day, but the celebration runs all week long. When you donate your status at waterday.org, we will automatically post you on Facebook to tell your friends and followers to join you. Then, each day… Read More

March 19, 2012 by William Logai Ochieng Tags: march 22, watercrisis, waterday

The Kony Video Generated Controversy

The KONY 2012 video has generated significant controversy. Misinterpretations of social media content may lead some people believing the LRA is now active again in Uganda. Read more: On How Uganda Government responded. It must be clarified at present the LRA is not active in Uganda. Practically expelled by the Ugandan People’s Defense Forces (UPDF), the LRA has retreated to dense terrain in the Central African forests. They are weakened group with a number not exceeding 300 men. The threat posed by them is considerably… Read More

March 16, 2012 by William Logai Ochieng Tags: atiek, gulu, kony 2012 video, north uganda

HOPE Ofiriha Is Unique

HOPE Ofiriha is very Unique to most NGOs working in South Sudan. HOPE Ofiriha believes that as much money as possible should be spent where the donors intended are needed most – Omilling! Too often, money given to NGO is wasted on administration, cars and very little money actually gets its way to the poor whom donors wish to help most. HOPE Ofiriha is unique. William Ochieng has given a substantial amount of his money to the NGO, working part-time for free, he flights to… Read More

March 10, 2012 by William Logai Ochieng Tags: audited accounts, finances, unique

A Small Loan with a Huge Impact

International Women’s Day, on March 8, is a time to reflect on the achievements and contributions of women around the world. Here’s a story that illustrates how Hope Ofiriha’s microloan programs can help carry a woman from a life of poverty to one of dignity, independence, and leadership as the chief executive officer of her own business. Grace Kamatoro grew up facing harsh circumstances. Her brothers and sisters resettled in Canada and Australia. Grace decided to stay in Africa to fight poverty to the end…. Read More

March 5, 2012 by William Logai Ochieng Tags: march 8, microloan, women international day

HO Plans to Buy Manual Delivery Bed

Onura Maternal Survival Project will soon save lives of hundreds of mothers and their babies when the childbirth delivery bed arrives. The project also will train mid-wives to deal with childbirth complications. On July 19 2011 GlobalGiving throw a baby shower for South Sudan’ Onura clinic. Due to the overwhelming supports of GlobalGiving’s donors, we’ve raised over $21,000 to save even more mothers and babies. HO plans to buy a childbirth delivery bed from Aegean-tech, a producer based in China. Aegean-tech has quoted the price… Read More

February 18, 2012 by William Logai Ochieng Tags: clinic, maternal mortality, onura, south sudan

Omilling Gears For Valentine’s Day

Valentine’s Day has a history of love, and caring. But this Valentine’s Day, perhaps it’s time to celebrate with a gift many of the world’s poorest women desperately need: delivery kits. According to the United Nation Population Fund (UNFPA), 1,000 women die every day due to pregnancy or childbirth. Ninety-nine percent of these deaths occur in less developed world and 90 percent in Africa alone. Reproductive health, including access to the information to plan a family, is a human right the world’s nations have recognized… Read More

February 14, 2012 by William Logai Ochieng Tags: empowerment, girls, reproductive health, women

The Land Rover Reached South Sudan

The Land Rover is released from the Custom and is deployed to the disposal of our Program Coordinators in the ground. Reaching Omilling rural communities has been a major challenge not only for HO, but also for other humanitarian agencies working in the country. The vast area is rural, and roads are also bad. The land Rover has the capabilities to match the challenge. The land Rover is capable to transport two metric tonnes to reach communities in remote, difficult – to – access rural… Read More

February 9, 2012 by William Logai Ochieng Tags: land rover, omilling, south sudan

Pigs For Education Project Fully Funded

Thanks to your generous support we are excited to report that phase two of our Pigs for education project is fully funded! The more than $1,000 donated will buy an additional 30 pigs for Omilling village’s six most destitute families who are eager to send their children to school. Giving pigs to widows and their destitute families will provide a much-needed income boost to help pay for vital basics like food, medicines, and shelter. More importantly, the boost will prevent young children from having to… Read More

January 10, 2012 by William Logai Ochieng Tags: education, pigs, school, south sudan, widows

Make Your Tax-Deductible, Year-End Gift Today!

Please donate before midnight on December 31 to receive a valuable 2011 tax deduction and to help sustain our vital work in 2012! We send these beautiful student to you today to say thank you for your support this year and to demonstrate the joy and promise in the face of this young girl. Because of your support of our work in two countries, her live is changing for the better. Make a Year-End Donation With your year –end gift, we will empower women to… Read More

December 31, 2011 by William Logai Ochieng Tags: christmas, donate, new year, tax deductable

A Volunteer Driver is Urgently Needed

Are you a safe, friendly driver keen to give back to your community? Do you want to volunteer for an organization that makes a difference to women’s lives? Hope Ofiriha is an independent small charity recognized for its innovation in empowering women and children living in rural communities to overcome social injustice, disease, illiteracy, and poverty. Our small-scale interventions enhance their social and economic well being and help them reach their potential. We are seeking a volunteer who is genuine about making a difference in women’s… Read More

Volunteer Olav Arneberg crossing E-fo river

December 25, 2011 by William Logai Ochieng Tags: drive, land rover, omilling, volunteer driver

What Is on Your Christmas Wish List?

Choose an item below and make a difference today! Your gift is tax-deductible through GlobalGiving this thanksgiving season. $20 Give a Village Drinking water in South Sudan. Clean water brings health, education, and the chance for a better tomorrow. Often, it means life itself. This holiday season, give the gift that saves lives and bring hope. <Give water!> $35 per Care Package Bless a poor mother and her child by providing newborn baby essentials. Send a baby care package thank includes socks, onesies, a bottle,… Read More

December 10, 2011 by William Logai Ochieng Tags: christmas, donate, hopeofiriha, thanksgiving

Magwi Office: Akello Susan, Field Coordinator

Akello Susan holds “O”&“A” – Level certificates of secondary education; three months Certificates in HIV/AIDS Counseling; Human rights and in project Management. Akello joined Hope Ofiriha in November 2011 to become the Field Coordinator for Magwi County as Staff member. As such, she is responsible for overall project management, capacity building, and representation. She has two years of experience in designing, implementing, and managing small scale projects in Bweyele Refugee Camp, Uganda. And she also has skills in a number of areas including HIV/AIDs Awareness,… Read More

December 4, 2011 by William Logai Ochieng Tags: aids, akello susan, awareness, hiv, southsudan

Today is World AIDS Day

Dec. 1, is World AIDS Day. Theme: Zero new HIV infections. Zero discrimination. Zero AIDS-related deaths. On World AIDS Day, organizations and world leaders hold events to commemorate and raise awareness around the struggles of people suffering from HIV/AIDS. Over the last month, world leaders have been speaking publicly in honor of the day, highlighting the need for not just medical interventions in treatment and prevention but education and awareness too. In her speech to the National Institute of Health, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary… Read More

December 1, 2011 by William Logai Ochieng Tags: hiv-aids, omilling, south sudan, world aids day

Happy Thanksgiving from Hope Ofiriha

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone in the United States and around the world! Hope Ofiriha wants to send a most sincere thank you to all of our supporters, donors, child sponsors, partners, volunteers, and everyone else playing a role in our success. Together, we are making a huge difference in the lives of South Sudanese women and children struggling to build a better future for themselves, their families, and their community. Enjoy this special day of Thanksgiving and remember that we could not do this work without… Read More

November 23, 2011 by William Logai Ochieng Tags: hope ofiriha, south sudan, thank you, thanksgiving

A Land Rover Is Heading to Omilling

Omilling is about 62 kilometers from Torit’s state capital. Accessing either is virtually impossible for villagers because there are no paved roads or public transportation to get there. A volunteer worked 50 hours in the past two weeks to ensure that a donated Land Rover is prepared for its new role in south Sudan. The Land Rover is cleaned, passed EU traffic test, and painted Green. It has left the Sweden port of Wallham on November 19 by EUKOR Car Carriers Inc, and is expected… Read More

November 20, 2011 by William Logai Ochieng Tags: donate, hope ofiriha, land rover, omilling, transport

Omilling Mairo School Building Update

Astrid Wang and Lunde Arneberg’s second trip to Omilling has been postponed/rearranged. Their schedules are tight in November. Between now and December 15, they are to deliver their thesis. They are also redesigning the school’s structures. If they return in November, they will only spend two weeks, but in January they can stay for four weeks. The New Year is better because it is more time. Returning in January, Astrid and Lunde will build more classrooms, and train villagers in red soil block production skills. With our small-scale projects, we are continually… Read More

October 31, 2011 by William Logai Ochieng Tags: education, poverty, refugees, school, south s

We’ve Reached $50,000 in GlobalGiving Donations

I’ve got great news to share! Today, thanks to our generous donors, we reached $50,000 in GlobalGiving donations, more than $32,000 of it this year. GlobalGiving has given us an invaluable boost at a time when many of our regular donors are cutting back due to the global recession. Thank you Global Giving! Thank you Hope Ofiriha supporters! Thank you donors! As you may recall, last July GlobalGiving’s participated in (or turbo charged) our rally to throw a baby shower for our Onura clinic in South… Read More

October 21, 2011 by admin Tags: charity, donations, globalgiving, onura, south sudan

Impoverished South Sudanese Children in Uganda

Impoverished South Sudanese children in Uganda often become slaves to their new “families.” Some, especially the girls, are sexually or physically abused, and all of them are expected to work hard. Polly’s story is unique. In fact, it is common for South Sudanese refugees to live as squatters in slums in the outskirts of Kampala, Uganda, often homeless. More than 1,000 children, most of them girls, have become “impoverished children” or “independent orphan children.” Their parents, too poor to feed, and educate their children, send them to live with… Read More

October 8, 2011 by William Logai Ochieng Tags: education, poverty, refugees, school, south sudan, uganda

Combating Poverty through Education

Omilling’s former child-soldier problem is a complicated one! Astrid Wang and Lunde Arneberg from the Oslo School of Architecture & Design are returning to Omilling to construct Mario primary school in November. The plan A – is to build one classroom, girl-pit latrine, and a teacher’s house. They are busy re-designing the school’s structure to match village’s standard. Fighting against decades of marginalization and intense state of poverty that spawn the practice, it is sometimes hard to imagine there is a way to help. Funding… Read More

September 30, 2011 by William Logai Ochieng Tags: children, education, globalgiving, hopeofiriha, mairo primary school, mairo school

Meeting in Omilling, South Sudan

Work on the Mairo Primary School is at a new stage! Last August, Astrid Rohde Wang and Lunde Arneberg from the Oslo School of Architecture & Design, and I visited Omilling to meet with the villagers. The Traditional Authority has approved the building plan and the community has already taken the ownership of the project. The two volunteers visited the donated plot and measured the site where the school will be built. The villagers gave a helping hand, and also assisted in searching for the red soil discovered… Read More

H.E Ochilo Peter, Commissioner Magwi County

September 1, 2011 by William Logai Ochieng Tags: children, education, globalgiving, hope ofiriha

GlobalGiving’s ‘Baby Shower’ One-Day Miracle

UPDATE: Due to the overwhelming support of GlobalGiving’s donors, we’ve raised our funding goal to $14,074 to save even more mothers and babies. I am over joyed to report that GlobalGiving’s participation in our rally to throw a baby shower for our Onura clinic in South Sudan has raised nearly $4,000 so far in less than a day. Our Onura Maternal Survival Project has gone from being one of our least supported projects on GlobalGiving to being fully funded (between May 2010 and yesterday, donors had only given… Read More

July 19, 2011 by William Logai Ochieng Tags: baby shower, campaign, globalgiving, maternal mortality, onura, south sudan

Welcome to the World, South Sudan

On July 9, 2011, planet Earth welcomed its newest country. Having declared independence after a decades-long civil war, South Sudan is a newborn nation full of promise. South Sudan is the 193rd player in the United Nations playground, its 6-year old government is learning to run, and its even starting to tweet from @RepSouthSudan! Up until now, moms in Onura village have been dying in childbirth because the midwives delivering babies lacked simple sterile supplies. What better way to celebrate the birth of a nation… Read More

July 15, 2011 by Linda Acen Abili Tags: clinic, maternal mortality, onura, southsudan

South Sudan Gains Independence on July 9!

Five days after the United States celebrates its independence, South Sudan will become the world’s youngest nation. Decades of brutal fighting have decimated South Sudan’s already fragile infrastructure. Little more than 120 doctors and fewer than 100 registered nurses care for 8 million people. The result: the people of South Sudan are suffering. With one of the world’s worst maternal mortality rates, women face a 1 in 7 risk of dying during pregnancy. A young girl in South Sudan is 3 times more likely to die… Read More

July 8, 2011 by William Logai Ochieng Tags: independence, july 9, south sudan

Celebrating Norway’s Constitution: Happy May 17!

Each year on May 17 Norwegians fill the streets with cheers and flags in celebration of Norway’s constitution, adopted in 1814. It sometimes happens that foreigners inadvertently walk out of Oslo’s main railway station and stumble into the capital city’s May 17 parade. Either they then join in, or they run for cover and exit the country muttering about total chauvinistic madness. There may well be an element of madness about Norway’s May 17th celebrations, everything being relative. The event commemorates the Norwegian Constitution, signed… Read More

May 17, 2011 by admin Tags: constitution, holidays, may 17th, norway, south sudan

No Flowers or Jewelry, Just Water without a Walk

Like hundreds of thousands of people around the world, you will wake this morning and twist a knob, granting you access to a stream of warm water. You might then proceed to make a call to your favorite flower shop and/or gift store and ask them to prepare something fit for a queen for your mother on Mother’s Day. You would like your mother to feel every bit of a queen today. If she is not that far from you, you may opt to take… Read More

May 8, 2011 by Sitawa Wafula Tags: holiday, mother's day, south sudan, water

No Tribe is Superior & No Tribe is Inferior

I’m deeply saddened that more than 1,000 people are dead after clashes between South Sudan’s army and militias. The unrest reminds me of the speech Haile Selassie I of Ethiopia gave in 1963 before the United Nations. Here’s the English translation, which was popularized in a song called War by Bob Marley: “That until the philosophy which holds one race superior and another inferior is finally and permanently discredited and abandoned: That until there are no longer first-class and second-class citizens of any nation; That until the color of a… Read More

April 29, 2011 by William Logai Ochieng Tags: haile selassie, injustice, intolerance, racism, south sudan

Reproductive Health, Sexual Rights & South Sudan

Reproductive health problems remain the leading causes of death for women of childbearing age worldwide. The impact is far worse in developing countries, which also have high fertility rates. Besides terrible reproductive health outcomes, these counters score poorly in poverty and education outcomes. South Sudan is no exception to this picture. The long civil war between the North and the South made reproductive health a crisis for South Sudan’s women, many of whom are widows and girls who had their sexual and reproductive rights abused… Read More

Primitive healthcare facility in Southern Sudan

April 12, 2011 by Sitawa Wafula Tags: #CPD44, maternal mortality, reproductive health, sexual rights, south sudan

New Volunteers to Redesign Mairo Primary School

Work on the Mario Primary School—which will give hope to war orphans, former child soldiers, and other vulnerable children in Omilling village—is racing along! I recently met with Astrid Rohde Wang and Olav Lunde Arneberg, two students from The Oslo School of Architecture and Design, who have volunteered to redesign the school’s structure at village Standard. For several months nothing was happening on the project, keeping the door closed for hundreds of vulnerable children to ever receive an education. Behind the scenes, the Hope Ofiriha team was busy working to find out… Read More

Astrid Rohde Wang and Olav Lunde Arneberg

March 31, 2011 by William Logai Ochieng Tags: astrid rohde wang, hope ofiriha, mairo primary school, olav lunde arneberg, south sudan

University of Zambia Donates Soil Block Machine

The Technology Development and Advisory Unit at the University of Zambia has donated a hand-press interlocking soil block machine to Hope Ofiriha to build the Mario Primary School. The donation—which ultimately will help educate hundreds of war orphans, former child soldiers, and other vulnerable children—is wonderful in so many ways! Production of interlocking soil-compressed blocks is environmentally friendly because very little water and cement and no firewood are used to make them. It is also much cheaper than buying and transporting manufactured ones because they are produced locally with local soil and… Read More

Our hand-press interlocking soil block machine donors

March 26, 2011 by William Logai Ochieng Tags: hand-press, interlocking, mairo primary school, soil block machine, university of zambia