‘Imagine a miracle’ in South Sudan was the focus of a conference held on Tuesday by
Solidarity with South Sudan, a consortium of over 200 religious congregations which
supports development in the world’s newest nation. Independence for South Sudan
was declared in July last year, yet since that time the border area has been a constant
scene of conflict with the north over oil, water, mineral resources or the fertile
grazing and agricultural land. Corruption in the new government is rife, while
the needs of the people in the south are overwhelming. It’s officially the most illiterate
country in the world and 1 in 4 children die before their 5th birthday.
Hard to imagine a miracle in such dire conditions. Yet that’s just what Solidarity
with South Sudan is urging us to do: to see where progress can be made, to support
the development process and, in the words of one sister, to watch over the growth
of this newest child in the family of African nations. To find out more, Philippa
Hitchen spoke to Sr Roxanne Shares, coordinator of the justice, peace and integrity
of creation network for her congregation, the School Sisters of Notre Dame. She’s
worked closely alongside Solidarity with South Sudan since its inception in 2004 and
regularly visits the education and health, reconciliation and training projects it
runs throughout the region....