Do Justice Campaign: Arogo's Story

"I don't see the change the world is talking about."

- AROGO

Like many Sudanese, Arogo doesn't know his birthday. He was born sometime in 1996, years into the first genocide the Bashir regime committed in the Nuba Mountains.

Arogo never went to high school. The war took many of his family members. The regime stole his childhood. He's never fully recovered.

Arogo has been living in Yida Refugee Camp since the second war began in 2011. His home was torched by the Popular Defense Forces, one of the regime's jihadist paramilitary outfits that still prowls around the region. He can't return to rebuild.

But Arogo isn't concerned about himself. Everywhere he looks, he sees his story being repeated: no real peace agreement. No real change. And thousands of children unable to get an education.

Life in Sudan's oppressed periphery regions is very different than life in Khartoum. From the Nuba Mountains to Darfur, the most vulnerable Sudanese are in danger by regime forces who have not disbanded. Many can't return home.

This is barely reported on. This isn't right. This isn't justice.

As Arogo points out, Yida Refugee Camp is one of these places. The education crisis in Yida took a turn for the worse in 2019. Several teachers were forced to leave because their salaries disappeared. They aren't coming back. If more teachers leave, this crisis will turn into a catastrophe. Period.

We launched this campaign because we can fix this together. If we all pitch in what we can each month, we can turn this crisis around. Arogo can know that the next generation, who he is so deeply concerned for, can move their people towards a brighter future. 

Do Justice: Our 2020 Campaign

Hello friends and supporters,

This week we are launching a new campaign: Do Justice. Here’s some information on what it is about.

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Throughout 2019, more teachers then ever before showed up at our schools in Yida Refugee Camp, hoping for a job. Well over 1,000 refugee students showed up and begged for an opening. Often times with tears in their eyes, the Nuba teachers at our schools turned them away. The resources just weren't there to expand. They still aren't there. And this crisis is not getting any better.

Do Justice is the most important campaign in our history. It's an all-in effort to halt the education crisis in Yida before it morphs into a catastrophe. We're also going to bust some myths about Sudan along the way. That's why we're throwing everything we have, know, and believe into Do Justice.

The campaign launches this Monday. Here are three ways you can help:

1. Share our posts as they pop up in your social media feeds.

2. Get ready to learn about this crisis and become involved next week. 

3. Contact us if you can't wait to get involved.

We’ll see you on Monday.

Onward,

Mark C. Hackett

Executive Director

Operation Broken Silence

Tennessee Advocacy Alert: HR 6094

New legislation will help the United States foster a successful democratic transition in Sudan. If you are a Tennessee resident, we need your help securing Congressional cosponsors for The Sudan Democratic Transition, Accountability, and Financial Transparency Act of 2020 (H.R. 6094).

We need you to call your Representative and ask them to become a cosponsor. If you don’t know who your Representative is, enter your zip code here:

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Step 1

Find the contact information for your Representative’s local office that is closest to your home below.

We recommend calling your local office instead of the Washington DC office. We’ve found that calling local offices is more effective.

District 2: Congressman Tim Burchett

• Knoxville: (865) 523-3772

• Maryville: (865) 984-5464

• Additional Contact Info ➾

District 1: Congressman David “Phil” Roe

• Kingsport: (423) 247-8161

• Morristown: (423) 254-1400

• Additional Contact Info ➾

District 4: Congressman Scott DeJarlais

• Murfreesboro: (615) 896-1986

• Columbia: (931) 381-9920

• Cleveland: (423) 472-7500

• Winchester: (931) 962-3180

• Additional Contact Info ➾

District 3: Congressman Charles “Chuck” Fleischmann

• Chattanooga: (423) 756-2342

• Athens: (423) 745-4671

• Oak Ridge: (865) 576-1976

• Additional Contact Info ➾

District 6: Congressman John Rose

• Cookeville: (931) 854-9430

• Gallatin: (615) 206-8204

• Additional Contact Info ➾

District 5: Congressman Jim Cooper

• Nashville: (615) 736-5295

• Additional Contact Info ➾

District 8: Congressman David Kustoff

• Memphis: (901) 682-4422

• Jackson: (731) 423-4848

• Dyersburg: (731) 412-1037

• Additional Contact Info ➾

District 7: Congressman Mark Green

• Clarksville: (931) 266-4483

• Franklin: (629) 223-6050

• Additional Contact Info ➾

District 9: Congressman Steve Cohen

• (901) 544-4131

• Additional Contact Info ➾

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Step 2

Prepare to make your phone call by editing our call script template.

We highly recommend that you make small edits so that your call is more personal. The Congressional staffer you talk to will know that you really do care a lot about this.

Copy and paste the following template to your computer or phone to edit:

Hello, my name is ___________ and I live in zip code _____. I am calling today to ask that Congressman _____________ cosponsor House Resolution 6094, The Sudan Democratic Transition, Accountability, and Financial Transparency Act of 2020.

This bipartisan legislation authorizes assistance for Sudan’s transition to a democracy, requires the Trump Administration to submit a strategy to Congress for supporting the civilian-led Government of Sudan during the country’s current transition period, and more.

Last year, Congressman _____________ voted in favor of House Resolution 432, making it clear that the House of Representatives supported the democratic aspirations of the Sudanese people.

By becoming a cosponsor of HR 6094, Congressman __________ will continue helping to improve U.S. policy toward Sudan and ensure that our country continues to play an indispensable leadership role on the world stage. Thank you.

Tips To Personalize Your Call Script

Note Your Past Involvement: If you have given or fundraised for the programs we support in Sudan, or advocated with us on a previous campaign, be sure to mention that. It will let the Congressional staffer know that you’ve been involved for a while and are serious.

Be A Little More Casual: We know that our call template sounds kind of nerdy. Change some words up and simplify sentences to make it sound a bit more down to earth. Just try not to take out important information, like what the bill does or the resolution number.

Keep It Brief: Congressional staffers are busy people. They really do appreciate it when constituents are polite, but also direct and to the point. Make your call script personal, but don’t turn it into a novel.

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Step 3

Use the number you selected and the script you made to call your local office!

Nervous about calling? Find a few more tips and some information below to further prepare yourself.

There’s a chance that the staffer you talk to won’t know much about Sudan. That’s okay! They may have a few questions for you. Here’s some more information to make sure you are prepared:

Why This Bill Is So Important

For the first time in 30 years, Sudan is awash in hope for real change. Decades of genocidal wars, brutal oppression, and extremist rule may finally be coming to an end.

In 2019, mass protests calling for civilian rule swept across Sudan. Regime security forces responded by murdering, raping, and torturing them. But the Sudanese people didn’t back down. In April of 2019, military leaders arrested dictator and indicted war criminal Omar al-Bashir in hopes of holding onto power themselves. Protesters refused to go home.

After several more months of regime violence and mounting international pressure, military leaders begrudgingly started to give ground. A half-win was achieved: three years of joint civilian and military rule followed by supposed free and fair elections.

But Sudan’s future is still hanging by a thread. Members of the regime remain at the highest levels of the transitional government. Their paramilitaries are still attacking ordinary people in Sudan’s oppressed hinterlands. And there have been several coup attempts by those who are trying to drag the country back into full-blown extremism.

While it is ultimately up to the Sudanese people to move their country forward, the United States can play a constructive role by helping to foster a successful democratic transition in Sudan. To do that, The Sudan Democratic Transition, Accountability, and Financial Transparency Act of 2020 (H.R. 6094) needs to pass out of Congress with bipartisan support.

What H.R. 6094 Does

The Sudan Democratic Transition, Accountability, and Financial Transparency Act of 2020 (H.R. 6094) does the following:

• authorizes assistance for democratic governance, rule of law, and human rights, including support for free, fair, and credible elections;

• authorizes support for development programs, including those focused on providing economic opportunities for youth and previously marginalized populations;

• supports long-term peace and stability in Sudan by authorizing support for conflict mitigation, including efforts to strengthen civilian oversight of the Sudanese security and intelligence services;

• promotes accountability for war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide by authorizing support to build Sudan’s judicial capacity to pursue prosecutions in domestic or hybrid international courts;

• supports debt relief and multilateral financing from international financial institutions provided that certain governance and fiscal transparency benchmarks are met;

• advances effort to assist the Government of Sudan in recovering stolen assets;

• authorizes sanctions on any individuals who commit human rights abuses, participate in the illicit exploitation of natural resources, or undermine the political transition in Sudan; and

• requires the Administration to submit to Congress a strategy for supporting the civilian-led Government of Sudan during the transition period.

If you want all the nitty gritty details, read the full text of the bill here.

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Step 4

Call your local office back once a week until you get an answer.

Stay polite and brief. If your Congressman does become a cosponsor, be sure to say thank you!

Have questions before calling?

Contact Us

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Stay Involved: Join Our New Campaign

Operation Broken Silence is battling a massive education crisis right now in Yida Refugee Camp. Tens of thousands of the Sudanese people have been living in Yida since 2011, when Sudan's military launched a genocidal war against the Nuba Mountains region.

Today, Yida looks less like a refugee camp and more like a permanent settlement. Schools dot the landscape; however, not a single one is fully supported. Nuba teachers are so severely underpaid that some have been forced to leave their profession altogether.

The beating heart of education is not classrooms, chalkboards, or textbooks. It is teachers. These teachers in Yida are so critical because they have lived through the war in Sudan, just like their students have. They are the only teachers in the world who fully understand what some 20,000 children in Yida have been through. They are irreplaceable. 

Making sure these teachers can keep doing what they love is our top priority. You can keep them employed by joining our new campaign.

We need all the help we can get. Every penny counts right now. Please join us in empowering these teachers in Yida Refugee Camp.

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About Us

Operation Broken Silence is building a global movement to empower the Sudanese people through innovative programs as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. We focus on empowering Sudanese change makers and their critical work. Learn more here.

Donations are tax-deductible within the guidelines of U.S. law. Give today.

March 2020 Mother of Mercy Hospital Update

In October 2016, Operation Broken Silence launched the Heart of Nuba Campaign. This online fundraising movement provides support to Mother of Mercy Hospital in the oppressed Nuba Mountains of Sudan.

Here is latest message from Dr. Tom:

It’s been busy here in Nuba and I wanted to send you a quick email about one of our patients, Nidal.

Her story is just a single glimpse into the life-changing impact you are making every single day by supporting our team here at Gidel Hospital. 

Nidal is only 11-months-old but already this little one has experienced a lot of pain. Her mom, Zahara, brought her to us after an unsuccessful trip to a local clinic didn’t solve her baby’s swelling stomach. 

"The swelling made her cry often, and she refused to breastfeed. Whenever she ate anything, she vomited and ended up malnourished,” her mom said. 

Nidal was diagnosed and treated for SAM (severe acute malnutrition) and is improving. She’s back to eating regularly, has gained weight, and Zahara can sleep at night now knowing her baby girl is ok. 

She wants to send her thanks to the people who send such essential medicine for her child and other suffering kids like Nidal. 

I wish you could see firsthand the result of your generosity: the smiles and Zahara’s relief when she was able to get medicine and treatment for her daughter. The look on her face when she realized her baby was safe. The way families are restored and reunited through the medical care our team provides. 

At the end of a long day, I go home at night knowing families here in Nuba are getting the help they need because of the dedicated support of people like you. We couldn’t do this without your kindness and compassion.

Thank you!

Dr. Tom Catena

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:

Finally, Dr. Tom was recently on the podcast Crazy Amazing Humans to talk about his work and the hospital. You can watch the interview below or listen here:

About The Nuba Mountains Of Sudan

The Nuba Mountains are home to roughly 100 African tribal groups who have lived there for over 2,000 years. The one million Christian, Muslim, and traditionalist Nuba people live in harmony together.

Sadly, the Nuba way of life has been in danger for decades. People living here have been subjected to 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 2019, 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 though.

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.

December 2019 Yida Education Update

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.

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, this new government has not lifted the humanitarian blockade, nor has a permanent peace been achieved.

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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.

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

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

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

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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 »

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

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.

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Background

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. 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 »

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