News & Updates

Check out the latest from Sudan and our movement

Mark Hackett 12/17/19 Mark Hackett 12/17/19

December 2019 Yida Education Update

An update from the schools you sponsor in Yida Refugee Camp.

Since 2015, our movement of fundraisers and donors has been fighting the education crisis in Yida Refugee Camp alongside of our Nuba education partner. This is an update on how your support is empowering the schools, teachers, and students Operation Broken Silence partners with in Yida.

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.

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.

Yida Refugee Camp sits just south of the Nuba Mountains across the international border that divides Sudan and South Sudan. Yida is one the primary places displaced and persecuted Nuba civilians have fled to over the past several years. Current estimates place Yida's annual population, which can fluctuate quite a bit, between 45,000-55,000 people.

One of the largest demographics in Yida is children under the age of 14. Despite this reality, there are only a handful of schools in Yida that receive little to no outside assistance. This largely unknown education crisis is threatening the next generation of Nuba leaders and their futures.

Operation Broken Silence sponsors the high-performing Endure Primary and new Renewal High Schools in Yida. Both schools are staffed entirely by Nuba teachers. They run the show, not us. Our fundraisers and donors provide the funding to help pay teacher salaries, give basic school supplies, support classroom construction and repair, and more.

Renewal High School is staffed by a principal, secretary, and 12 teachers. The school has been in a soft-open phase all year with 120 students. The semester ended at Renewal High on December 9, and classes will begin again on January 27.

In 2020, our Nuba education partner hopes to double the number of students as Renewal High continues opening more grades and classes. As we outline below, current teacher salaries at the school are not fully met yet, so growing the school will depend entirely on additional monthly giving.

Renewal High is one of two secondary schools in Yida. Earlier this year, the other secondary school was badly damaged during the rainy season. This only made the need for Renewal High that much greater.

Endure Primary School is staffed by 12 teachers, 1 cook, and 1 guard. The cook and guard serve both schools, but are budgeted to Endure Primary.

964 students have attended the school this year, which is the maximum number allowed. 48 students in the P8 class, the final grade, are beginning to prepare for their final exams and graduation in 2020.

Classes are still in session at Endure Primary and will soon break for Christmas. The small sports program at Endure Primary includes male and female soccer teams and male and female volleyball teams. Matches regularly draw in small crowds from and help build community in Yida. And the small student choir continues to tour around the refugee camp from time to time singing traditional Nuba songs.

In early December, our education partner delivered another batch of supplies to the schools. Here are a few recent videos and photos from the schools:

Video: Students and teachers thank our supporters as 2019 comes to a close.

Photo: Renewal High students celebrate recent grades near the end of the semester.

Photo: Notebooks delivered to the schools by our Nuba education partner in December.

Photo: Students at Endure Primary School hold their new notebooks.

Photo: Students from both schools gather for an end of semester celebration.

We couldn't be more amazed at how much the teachers at the Endure Primary and Renewal High Schools have accomplished this year, especially considering the challenges they face.

Thanks to a generous donation from one of our supporters, the schools will soon receive the weatherproofing materials requested by our education partner. This will help make classrooms safer during the annual rainy season.

Current Needs At The Schools

Endure Primary and Renewal High have several needs going into 2020 that are unmet:

Critical Need: $2,500 in monthly giving for teacher salaries
$1,025: Printer for grades and testing
$3,750: New chalkboards for classrooms
$11,500: Two more classrooms for Renewal High

It's common for children across Yida to show up at the schools every week hoping that a spot has opened up for them. Our projection is that the schools will remain at their current size through 2020 due to a lack of funding and current needs not being met. For now, this means very few spots will open up in classrooms at both schools.

Simply put, our movement and Nuba education partner have a lot of hard and good work ahead. 2020 marks the beginning of a new decade. We ask that you join us in helping the teachers and students in Yida get off to a good start.

Operation Broken Silence is one of only a few nonprofits in the world working alongside of the Sudanese people to end the education crisis in the Nuba Mountains. Here are three simple ways you can help us meet the basic needs at the schools in Yida:

1. Give Monthly. The Renewal is our unstoppable family of monthly givers who never stop fighting for change. They give automatically each and every month to these two schools, providing consistent support to the 24 teachers and nearly 1,100 students from the Nuba Mountains. This is the best and easiest way to get involved! SIGN UP »

2. Become A Fundraiser. If you can’t give monthly right now, start an online fundraising page for the schools and ask your friends and family to give. Your page comes complete with the all information and two videos about education in Yida, so all you have to do ask people to give to your goal. BECOME A FUNDRAISER »

3. Give Once. Not ready to commit with a monthly gift or fundraising yet? That’s okay, making a one-time gift is the best next step to get your feet wet! GIVE HERE »

Mark Hackett 12/10/19 Mark Hackett 12/10/19

December 2019 Nuba College Scholarship Fund Update

Since 2016, Operation Broken Silence has set aside a small amount of money each year to assist a Nuba student who is college-ready. Virtually all students in the Nuba Mountains and Yida Refugee Camp do not have access to higher education due to geographic location and funding challenges, which means they must attend a university elsewhere in east Africa. Our movement is currently supporting a Nuba student in Uganda who is studying Public Administration and Management.

Background

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. A fragile ceasefire is holding together in the Nuba Mountains, bu there have been several targeted attacks by regime forces in frontline areas over the past few months. No aerial bombing has been reported.

Most schools in the Nuba Mountains are now destroyed, closed, or barely functioning. The education crisis in this part of Sudan has spilled over into Yida Refugee Camp as well, where thousands of children lack access to a quality education. Operation Broken Silence sponsors the Endure Primary and Renewal High Schools in Yida.

Despite these severe challenges, a small number of Nuba students have managed to become college-ready over the last several years. They have attended the few schools available to them and self-taught with whatever resources they can find. Since 2016, we have been supporting one of these students, Jargi Joseph Aloga, as he attends college in Uganda. You can watch his story here:

On November 28, Jargi received his Diploma in Public Administration and Management from St. Lawrence University. He asked me to pass along this message to you all:

I honor and thank you so much for all you have done for me. Without you, I wouldn't so far reach this milestone. Without you I have no idea on how my future will look like. This gown does not belong to me, but to you. It's all out of your sacrifice that I am wearing it today.
I earlier talked of building projects targeting young people, conducting civic education on different issues. When I finish school, I will go back to Nuba Mountains and see how I can help in these areas.

Jargi will continue with advanced studies in Uganda for another three semesters. In the coming months and as his studies near an end, Jargi will begin narrowing down his plan for serving his people. We're excited to see what he comes up with!

Our scholarship fund is beginning to run low. If you would like to support Jargi and future students just like him, you can find ways to do that below.

Operation Broken Silence is one of the only nonprofits in the world that has a college scholarship fund exclusive to the Nuba Mountains of Sudan. Without this fund, Jargi Joseph and future students just like him will not be able to attain a higher education. Here are three effective ways you can help this fund continue in the years ahead:

1. Give Monthly. This is the easiest way to grow the Nuba College Scholarship Fund. 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 our education program and ask your friends and family to give towards your goal. This is the best way to support education for Nuba students 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 is the perfect next step for you. GIVE HERE »

Mark Hackett 12/4/19 Mark Hackett 12/4/19

#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:

GIVE HERE

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 our schools and ask your friends and family to donate. LEARN MORE »

Sign up for our email updates. Find us online at Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Mark Hackett 11/28/19 Mark Hackett 11/28/19

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.

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!

DOWNLOAD GIVING FORM

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

Mark Hackett 11/27/19 Mark Hackett 11/27/19

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'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. — ***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.

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!

BECOME A FUNDRAISER

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

Sign up for our email updates. Find us online at Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Mark Hackett 11/26/19 Mark Hackett 11/26/19

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. — ***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 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.

JOIN THE RENEWAL

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

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