heks

HEKS has made the province of Central Equatoria its primary focus, situated as it is among once bitterly fought-over regions (civil war from 1982 to 2005). The decades of conflict have left the already sparse infrastructure largely destroyed. Hundreds of thousands of people were driven from their villages and land-mines were laid which make it difficult for the displaced to return. The support offered by HEKS during the long years of war in South Sudan was mainly of a humanitarian nature. The signing of the peace agreement in 2005 has enabled the civil society to work towards a better future. HEKS supports five South Sudanese non-governmental organisations in Central Equatoria with the development and rehabilitation of their villages.

The situation is further compounded by the lack of basic provision in education, health, water supply, agriculture and veterinary medicine. One consequence of the war was that several generations virtually missed out on any form of schooling or vocational training. Today many adults and young people lack any kind of education or training which might enable them to earn a living.

Families in rural areas frequently rely on polluted, unsafe and very remote sources of water. The people draw their drinking water from unprotected springs, rivers, streams and even puddles. Rainfall in the arid lowlands is sparse and highly irregular. As a result, there is not enough surface or ground water. The way in which long periods of drought are punctuated by sudden torrential downpours can also be unpredictable and insidious.

Aims, points of focus, initiatives:

• Water supply: HEKS is working to guarantee supplies of clean drinking water in more than ten villages. There are plans to drill new wells, repair damaged hand-operated wells and to protect springs. So-called water committees are also being set up in the villages and are responsible for managing the water systems. The responsibility is thus placed in the hands of those men and women who actually use the system.
• Education and promotion of peace: South Sudanese men, women and young people take courses in literacy, vocational training and peacebuilding. The aim is to foster a culture of harmonious co-existence among people who, thanks to these courses, are equipped to earn a living and feed their families.
• Agriculture, fish breeding and cattle breeding: Thanks to organic cultivation, fish breeding and cattle breeding, South Sudanese farming families can eat two meals a day and sell their produce to earn a small income which they use for better health care and their children’s education.
• Capacity building: Another important aspect of the support given by HEKS is the further training of those in charge of the partner organisations in South Sudan, equipping them to act as a link between the civil society and the authorities. The partner organisations share their experiences and successes with each other several times a year. HEKS is thus making a contribution in more than one way, looking to intensify the survival strategies of the people but also encouraging the men and women in South Sudan to take ownership of their basic right to food, water, education, health and safety.