News & Updates
Check out the latest from Sudan and our movement
December 2019 Mother of Mercy Hospital Update
In October 2016, Operation Broken Silence launched the Heart of Nuba Campaign alongside of the Take Heart Foundation.
In October 2016, Operation Broken Silence launched the Heart of Nuba Campaign alongside of the Take Heart Foundation. This online fundraising movement provides support to Mother of Mercy Hospital in the oppressed Nuba Mountains of Sudan. This is an update on how your fundraising and giving is leading to real results at this special healthcare facility.
People in the Nuba Mountains of Sudan have been living in emergency conditions since June of 2011, when Sudan's military regime launched another genocidal war against their communities. The regime banned all aid and media organizations from the Nuba Mountains in an attempt to cover up their war crimes and increase suffering on the Nuba people.
Sudanese dictator Omar al-Bashir was overthrown in a military coup in April 2019. Sudan now has a fledgling transitional government that is seeking to move the country toward civilian, democratic rule. In October, Sudan’s Council of Ministers granted permission for the World Food Programme (WFP) to visit Kauda, the opposition capital in the war-torn Nuba Mountains region, for the first time in more than eight years. Sadly though, this new government has not yet lifted the humanitarian blockade on the Nuba Mountains, nor has a permanent peace been achieved.
Right now, a fragile ceasefire is holding together in the Nuba Mountains. There have been several targeted attacks by regime forces in frontline areas over the past few months. No aerial bombing has been reported.
In the heart of the warzone sits Mother of Mercy Hospital, the only referral hospital in the region. This life-saving facility is led by American Dr. Tom Catena and an incredible local Nuba staff. They refuse to leave and do their best to save lives, sometimes treating over 400 patients a day. Access to basic medical supplies is extremely limited and the hospital is regularly short on funds. Mother of Mercy Hospital depends entirely on private fundraising and giving.
Here is the latest message from Dr. Tom:
I wish you could meet Salwa in person. Since that’s not possible, I hope my effort to tell her story gives you a glimpse into her life and her courage. Salwa is a 32-year-old mother. She lives about a 12-hour walk from Gidel Hospital, in a small village called Tangal.
Early on in her pregnancy, she started having severe neck and chest pain. A local clinic gave her medication but after a month of taking it, she was still in pain. The clinic referred her to me and my team. After a few tests, we diagnosed her with tuberculosis and immediately started her treatment.
In addition to that, she had fluid building up in her chest cavity which has to be drained periodically. “The pain in my neck and difficulty breathing has disappeared, and my body is generally much better,” she told us.
During her weeks-long treatment, she gave birth to her son, Rama, who has congenital club foot. I’ve been treating him with plaster casts that are changed every three weeks. Rama is one of the lucky ones. Since we were able to treat him so early, he’ll be able to walk normally once his treatment is done and he’s old enough to walk.
"I want to thank the doctors and nurses at the Gidel Mother of Mercy Hospital for their great care and for helping me for such a long time. My gratitude also goes out to everyone who supports Gidel Hospital with medicine and equipment that are not available anywhere else in the Nuba Mountains. If it were not for your generosity, many people including myself and my son wouldn't be here. God bless you,” Salwa says.
Her courage in the midst of pain, her resilience in the face of extreme poverty, and her tenderness towards her son inspires me.
As 2019 comes to a close, we are grateful for the team at Mother of Mercy Hospital and their unwavering commitment to the Nuba people. They are true heroes who have had to work under the threats of violence, a lack of funding, and a lack of resources.
The hospital's impact is truly incredible despite these challenges and many more. In 2018 alone, the hospital performed 53,632 clinic visits (29% are children under 5-years-old), completed 1,625 operations, cared for an additional 80,000 patients at six community clinics, delivered 382 babies (20% by C-section), and treated 164 tuberculosis and leprosy patients.
2020 marks the beginning of a new decade. We ask that you join us in helping the team at Mother of Mercy Hospital get off to a good start:
Mother of Mercy Hospital is the only medical facility for hundreds of thousands of people in the Nuba Mountains. Without this critical healthcare institution, people would have nowhere else to go. Here are three effective ways you can help support the work at Mother of Mercy Hospital:
1. Give Monthly. This is the easiest way to support the lifesaving work being done every day at Mother of Mercy Hospital. Signing up takes less than a minute, and you'll be effortlessly provide consistent support moving forwards. LEARN MORE »
2. Become a Fundraiser. You can start a personal fundraising page for Mother of Mercy Hospital and ask your friends and family to give towards your goal. This is the best way to support healthcare work in the Nuba Mountains and get your community involved at the same time. START FUNDRAISING »
3. Give. If you're not ready to make a monthly giving or fundraising commitment yet, making a one-time donation to the hospital is the perfect next step for you. GIVE HERE »
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#GivingTuesday 2019 Recap
This was the 6th year that you fundraised and gave with us on #GivingTuesday.
This was the 6th year that you fundraised and gave with us on #GivingTuesday. Our campaign centered on raising some of the startup costs to build a library at the Endure Primary and Renewal High Schools in Yida Refugee Camp! A number of you also gave and fundraised through our other campaigns and events that support various projects in Sudan and Yida Refugee Camp.
To everyone who helped us reach our goal, we are so thankful for your generosity! A few special shoutouts from the day:
Our Instagram Followers! This was the first year we fundraised on the platform. We'll see your full results in a few days, but we already know a good number of you decided to give and help fundraise on Instagram. A special thank you to Jacob Geyer, Ragaa Kunda, Andrea Pitman, Dan Searl, and Ashley Thephasone for encouraging people to join our cause!
Our Soirée For Sudan Committee. Our annual Gala isn't until March 28, but some of our talented planning committee members spent the day raising awareness about the event and reaching their personal fundraising goals. Special shoutout to Faith Pool, Sarah Roberts, and Samantha Stack! You helped raise an extra $525 on #GivingTuesday.
Our Thanksgiving Supporters. Leading up to #GivingTuesday, three of our supporters shared their experiences in our movement and why they care about Sudan. Thanks to Victoria Busse, Mark Gosney, and Myanne James for helping us kick off this season of generosity!
Missed the big day? That's okay! Giving is still open:
This year we mixed up our festivities with a city-wide Scavenger Hunt here in Memphis! 26 of our supporters spread out across the city in search of prizes and fun places. The winning team was the Marsh family! Congrats Anna, Richard, Tim, & Joe!
We owe a big thank you to The Arcade Restaurant, Facing History and Ourselves, Miss Cordelia's, Comeback Coffee, Global Café, Choose901, Lafayette's Music Room, The Pink Palace, Tiger Bookstore, and Novel bookstore for hosting our Scavenger Hunters! Thank you for donating your time, space, and rewards for our supporters. And a big thank you to providing a total of $800 worth of gift bags to the winning team! This event would not have been possible without you.
Every #GivingTuesday we have a casual meetup at a brewery for our supporters here in Memphis! This year we were hosted by one of our Brand Partner's Wiseacre Brewing Company. Sudanese food was provided by our good friends at Global Cafe. Thanks to everyone who came out!
Our supporters who came to Wiseacre also had the opportunity to claim a special code for an extra 25% off all tickets to Soirée For Sudan on March 28, 2020. OBSGivingTuesday is the code. There are only 4 left, first come first serve. REGISTER FOR THE SOIREE »
Thank you to both Wiseacre and Global Café for making the evening possible! Learn more about our Brand partnership program here.
The Sudanese people are bringing an end to the extremist governance that has plagued their country for decades. As this historic year in Sudan comes to a close, the needs of our Sudanese partners remain largely unchanged. From our schools in Yida Refugee Camp to Mother of Mercy Hospital in the oppressed Nuba Mountains, your support is needed to ensure the Sudanese people can keep creating lasting change, from the ground up.
Here are three ways you can make your last gift of the year count:
1. Give. The easiest and fastest way to make a difference is to make a donation! You can give online, by check, or by stock. GIVE ONLINE HERE »
2. Give Monthly. The Renewal is our family of top supporters who never stop fighting for change. They've signed up to give automatically each and every month to the programs we support in Sudan. They also get perks: behind-the-scenes updates, free event tickets, and more. JOIN THE RENEWAL »
3. Fundraise. If you aren't in a position to donate, give the gift of time! You can start an online fundraising page for the hospital or our schools and ask your friends and family to donate. LEARN MORE »
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Movement Spotlight: Mark Gosney
There are lots of exciting ways to give to our life-changing work in Sudan this holiday season. One of the least known is donating from your investment portfolio! This type of giving isn't for everyone, but it does come with some cool perks if you play your cards right. If you are invested, this method of giving is definitely worth checking out.
There are lots of exciting ways to give to our life-changing work in Sudan this holiday season. One of the least known is donating from your investment portfolio! This type of giving isn't for everyone, but it does come with some cool perks if you play your cards right. If you are invested, this method of giving is definitely worth checking out.
We only have a few donors who give this way every year, so they are really special to us. One of them is long-time supporter Mark Gosney. He is the Director of Operations and Programming for Advance Memphis, a faith-based, non-profit that provides workforce development to South Memphis. He says:
I became involved as I got to know Mark Hackett's passion for addressing the genocide in Sudan through a bible-study we were in....a long time ago.
The first thing that comes to mind is Operation Broken Silence's focus and dedication to the people of Sudan. Also, it is a smaller organization that has taken on a big challenge. And I really appreciate the goal to let people like me engage the work personally. This is especially hard since the work is thousands of miles away and such a large task.
We give by stock because it fits our stewardship style at this point in our lives. Also, I think we are able to give more because it does not come directly from current income.
Photo: Mark Gosney (center left) and family at our brand partner The Arcade Restaurant's 100 year anniversary celebration in Memphis.
The US stock market has been on a historic run since the Great Recession. This means that there are a plenty of stocks which have experienced major gains. While that's great news for investors, it can also mean that when high earners sell those stocks, taxes on the gains will be owed. Gifting stock and other investments to Operation Broken Silence can be a win-win because the stockholder gets to claim more of the money as a tax deduction, and we get to use more of the gift to support our programs in Sudan.
Mark has been giving from his investment portfolio since 2016. We asked him if he has any words of encouragement for others who are considering giving like he does. Mark says:
The economy is providing good returns for now. This is a good way not only to "protect" our tax situation, but to share with others. It might be easy for us to be greedy with what we have squirreled away. For me, it is a way to let God teach me that the portfolio really is all His, too.
The Sudanese people are bringing an end to the violent governance that has plagued their country for decades. One of the many ways Operation Broken Silence is helping them do that is by funding the Endure Primary and Renewal High Schools in Yida Refugee Camp, where thousands of Sudanese children don't have access to a quality education.
A unique way to support the 24 Sudanese teachers and nearly 1,100 students at these two incredible schools is to give from your portfolio, just like Mark. We've made the process as straightforward as possible, and you can be confident that lives will keep changing for the better. Download our Stock Transfer Form and follow the simple instructions to give!
For stock held in brokerage accounts, your broker can assist you in making a gift of stock via a direct transfer to Operation Broken Silence. Giving a gift of publicly traded stock that has increased in value and that you have owned for more than one year may provide better tax benefits than giving cash. Your charitable income tax deduction is equal to the fair market value of the stock and you avoid paying the capital gains tax on any increase in the current value over the original cost of the stock. You may also save on brokerage fees because you are transferring ownership rather than selling the stock.
Have questions before giving an investment? Reach out to us at info@operationbrokensilence.org
Movement Spotlight: Myanne James
We don't know where we would be without them. Our community of fundraisers propels entire parts of our mission to empower Sudanese changemakers forwards. From our ongoing campaigns to events, these amazing individuals ask their friends and family to pitch into their goals, all for the education and healthcare programs we support in Sudan.
We don't know where we would be without them. Our community of fundraisers propels entire parts of our mission to empower Sudanese changemakers forwards. From our ongoing campaigns to events, these amazing individuals ask their friends and family to pitch into their goals, all for the education and healthcare programs we support in Sudan.
We've had more than 900 supporters fundraise with us the past few years. One of them is Myanne James. She is a senior at Hutchison School here in Memphis, TN. I first met Myanne in April 2018 when she did a career shadow day with me. She says:
I first got involved with Operation Broken Silence as a sophomore when I was looking for someone to shadow for my school’s upcoming career shadow day. A faculty member suggested I shadow someone at this organization since they knew I wanted to pursue a career in International Relations. I spent a morning talking with Mark about the nonprofit and its mission. I have continued to stay involved by starting a fundraising team in my civic engagement club and volunteering at our annual 5k.
What stands out most to me about Operation Broken Silence’s mission is that we are empowering the Sudanese through storytelling to enlighten the rest of the world on the atrocities in Sudan. The more people that are informed about the horrors, the more people there are to stand up and help the Sudanese put an end to those horrors.
Often times, organizations will provide humanitarian aid to people for a short while, but then, once the aid is gone, the people are still left in bad shape. Operation Broken Silence is making sure the Sudanese can stand on their own by listening to what the Sudanese say they need and telling the stories of the refugees, which is what makes this nonprofit so different from others.
Photo: Myanne James (right) with friends.
Myanne has been fundraising with some of her friends for over a year. They've now raised over $600 for the Endure Primary and Renewal High Schools in Yida Refugee Camp! Since she has been so successful as one of our top fundraisers, I asked her if she has any words of encouragement for others who are considering getting involved like she is. Myanne says:
I have always enjoyed volunteering in my own community. When I was asked if I wanted to fundraise for the schools in the Yida Refugee Camp, my answer was immediately "yes" because I know how valuable education is and believe knowledge is one of the most powerful tools a person can have. No one should be deprived of education. I became a fundraiser because I believe educating the next generation of Sudanese people will empower them and allow them to become reformers and improve their own community.
I recommend setting a goal and timeframe for yourself and even finding a person or two to keep you on track, and then they may even want to fundraise with you! Most importantly, remember any donation made helps pay for teachers’ salaries, basic school supplies, classrooms, and much more, and those donations (no matter the size) are not only changing the lives of the people in Yida right now, but any who follow after them!
Over the years, we've had fundraisers just like Myanne support teachers and students in Yida. Many of them can be found across the United States. I know that the teachers and students at the schools we support in Yida Refugee Camp are grateful for the commitment from each of them, including Myanne.
The Sudanese people are bringing an end to the violent governance that has plagued their country for decades. One of the many ways Operation Broken Silence is helping them do that is by funding the Endure Primary and Renewal High Schools in Yida Refugee Camp, where thousands of Sudanese children don't have access to a quality education.
A fantastic way you can support the 24 Sudanese teachers and nearly 1,100 students at these two incredible schools is to become a fundraiser, just like Myanne. December is actually one of the best months of the year to raise $100 for the school!
Both schools are funded entirely by our fundraisers and givers. That means every single person getting involved counts. The more the merrier! Have questions before starting a fundraising page? Reach out at info@operationbrokensilence.org
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Movement Spotlight: Victoria Busse
Today I want to introduce you to one of our Renewal family. Victoria Busse is a College Counselor at Hutchison School here in Memphis, TN. I first met Victoria in 2013 when she was interning with us.
At the heart of our movement is a small, but incredible monthly giving family that we call The Renewal. These are our top supporters. They believe in the Sudanese people so much that they give monthly to the education and healthcare programs we support in in Sudan.
Today I want to introduce you to one of our Renewal family. Victoria Busse is a College Counselor at Hutchison School here in Memphis, TN. I first met Victoria in 2013 when she was interning with us. She says:
Even after my internship ended I stayed connected to the organization because I believed in the work that was being done. I love that we support the mission for the Sudanese people by letting them take the lead. They're living the experience, so they should have the most input into what structures and services work for their community. I love that OBS comes along side them to assist and not simply to direct funds.
I work at Hutchison School as a College Counselor, which essentially entails helping girls find colleges they want to attend and then lots of revisions for essay drafts, interview prep, resume revisions, and course advising for the underclassmen. As an educator and lifelong learner, I deeply value access to schools. I love that my contributions are funding classrooms and teachers as I believe that education truly can change someone's life.
Photo: Victoria Busse (right) with Robin Loeffel (left) at our 2018 Gala.
Victoria has been giving monthly since March 2018. Our Renewal family has grown quite a bit since then, so I asked her if she has any words of encouragement for others who are considering giving monthly like she does. Victoria says:
OBS is such a personal and thoughtful organization that cares about supporting and growing this community in Sudan that has endured so much. Being a Memphian, I love that it was created here and that the city and churches of Memphis are rallying to help our brothers and sisters across the globe.
We currently have 76 members in our Renewal family. They can be found everywhere from here in Memphis to as far away as California and New York. I know that the teachers and students at the schools we support in Yida Refugee Camp are grateful for the commitment each of Renewal members has made, including Victoria.
The Sudanese people are bringing an end to the violent governance that has plagued their country for decades. One of the many ways Operation Broken Silence is helping them do that is by funding the Endure Primary and Renewal High Schools in Yida Refugee Camp, where thousands of Sudanese children don't have access to a quality education.
The best way you can support the 24 Sudanese teachers and nearly 1,100 students at these two incredible schools is to become a Renewal member, just like Victoria. Monthly giving is automatic and effortless, and you can be confident that lives will keep changing for the better.
Both schools are currently short about $2,000 in monthly support. That means we need 80 more individuals and families to join The Renewal by giving $25 a month.
Every member of The Renewal gets a quarterly update that takes you behind-the-scenes of our work and receives a special pin that only Renewal members have! Members that give $25+ a month also get two free tickets to Soirée For Sudan each Spring and Eden's Run 5K each Fall. Have questions before signing up? Reach out at info@operationbrokensilence.org
Sign up for our email list to get updates from Sudan and our movement. You can also follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
WFP Director Permitted To Visit Nuba Mountains
In a major development, Sudan’s Council of Ministers granted permission for the World Food Programme (WFP) to visit Kauda, the rebel capital in the war-torn Nuba Mountains region, for the first time in more than eight years.
In a major development, Sudan’s Council of Ministers granted permission for the World Food Programme (WFP) to visit Kauda, the rebel capital in the war-torn Nuba Mountains region, for the first time in more than eight years.
People in the Nuba Mountains have been living in emergency conditions since June of 2011, when the former Bashir regime launched another genocidal war against their communities. The regime banned all humanitarian aid and media organizations from the Nuba Mountains in an attempt to cover up their war crimes and further harm the Nuba people. Sudanese dictator Omar al-Bashir was overthrown in a military coup in April 2019.
Sudan now has a fledgling transitional government that is seeking to move the country toward civilian, democratic rule. The new government has not lifted the humanitarian blockade on the Nuba Mountains, nor has a permanent peace been achieved. But while this WFP visit to Kauda was merely symbolic in nature, it would have never happened as recently as just a few months ago. In a statement earlier today, the transitional government said the WFP visit is part of a larger humanitarian delivery framework that is being prepared for Sudan.
WFP Executive Director David Beasley was warmly welcomed in Kauda by Abdul Aziz El-Hilu, the commander of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N):
135 Likes, 9 Comments - Ryan Boyette (@ryan_boyette) on Instagram: "AMAZING day in #Sudan. The @worldfoodprogramme Ex.Dir. @david.beasley__ flew to the war zone of..."
The SPLM-N is a well-organized, indigenous armed force of Nuba civilians that has prevented Sudanese government forces from wiping out the Nuba people. This armed movement is also the most powerful of Sudan's multiple rebel groups. The Sudanese government has prevented larger humanitarian organizations like WFP from working in SPLM-N-held areas for more than 9 years.
Right now, a fragile ceasefire is holding together in the Nuba Mountains. This year has seen reports of targeted government attacks in several frontline areas, as well as some government warplanes flying overhead. While no actual aerial bombing has occurred, these bomber flights do disrupt daily life at farms, schools, and markets since people do not know if the area they are in is about to be targeted or not.
The Sudanese people are bringing an end to the violent governance that has plagued their country for decades. One of the many ways Operation Broken Silence is helping them do that is by fundraising for Mother of Mercy Hospital in the Nuba Mountains. While we are encouraged by this WFP visit to Kauda, the illegal humanitarian blockade on the Nuba Mountains has still not been lifted.
Mother of Mercy is the only referral hospital in the Nuba Mountains warzone. This life-saving facility is led by American Dr. Tom Catena and an incredible local Nuba staff. They refuse to leave and do their best to save lives, sometimes treating over 400 patients a day. Access to basic medical supplies is extremely limited and the hospital is frequently short on funds. The team at Mother of Mercy Hospital depends entirely on private fundraising and donations to treat the wounded and train the staff.
Here are three ways you can help support the lifesaving work being done at the hospital:
1. Give Monthly. This is the easiest way to support the lifesaving work being done every day at Mother of Mercy Hospital. Signing up takes less than a minute, and you'll be effortlessly provide consistent support moving forwards. LEARN MORE »
2. Become a Fundraiser. You can start a personal fundraising page for Mother of Mercy Hospital and ask your friends and family to give towards your goal. This is the best way to support healthcare work in the Nuba Mountains and get your community involved at the same time. START FUNDRAISING »
3. Give. If you're not ready to make a monthly giving or fundraising commitment yet, making a one-time donation to the hospital is the perfect next step for you. GIVE HERE »
Sign up for our email list to get updates from Sudan and our movement. You can also follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.