Do Justice Campaign: Philip's Story

"Teaching in Yida is hard. But I have hope."

- PHILIP

In 2012, Philip was teaching when he heard a faint buzzing. Like everyone who lives in the Nuba Mountains, he was conditioned to pause. He stepped to the doorless entrance and looked up to the blue sky. His heart skipped a beat. The buzz came from an Antonov bomber heading straight for them. 

"Quickly children. Take cover," he said. They filed outside in a brisk fashion before bolting to foxholes. Thankfully, the bombs missed. Philip saved the lives of nearly 80 children that day. He's a hero.

By next week, attendance had dropped 70%. Scared families were sending their kids to Yida Refugee Camp across the border. Philip decided to follow. 

On the road to Yida, he witnessed a hint of what awaited him: scared children from across the Nuba Mountains heading south. They had one eye on the road and one eye on the sky for bombers.

Philip finally arrived after a 4 day journey. Over 100 children walked into Yida with him. With no classroom and no chalkboard, he found a tree to gather them under. And he started teaching.

Teaching is central to Philip's identity. Watching students learn and grow is far more rewarding than the paycheck he receives. For the first few years in Yida, he didn't even get a paycheck. His students were all he had.

Philip's hope never wavered. The class he started underneath a tree? That was the beginning of the Endure Primary School, one of two schools we sponsor in Yida. Those first 100+ students? Most of them graduated. There are nearly 1,000 more children in Endure Primary today. Philip certainly has a lot to be proud of.

But there is still a very long road ahead in Yida. By the end of last year, several teachers and over 1,000 children had shown up at the schools begging for an open spot. All of them were turned away. The money just wasn't there to expand.

This is why giving monthly is so important. These people have no one else to turn to. We're it. When you start giving monthly, you're supporting heroes just like Philip.