Dreams Become a Reality in South Sudan

August 30th was a huge day for HHA: the inauguration of the New Hope Kajo-Keji Health and Rehabilitation Centre in South Sudan! This clinic has been a dream of ours for seven years, ever since we first visited Kajo-Keji in 2016 and saw the incredible need for healthcare - especially for mothers and babies - and services for people with disabilities. When we were forced to leave South Sudan almost immediately because of conflict, we weren’t sure when we’d be able to return; so Wednesday was an immense milestone for us as an organisation, as well as for our local team, many of whom are South Sudanese themselves.

The inauguration day was incredibly joyful, with community leaders, government representatives, and HHA staff and supporters coming together to celebrate this long-standing dream becoming a reality. East Africa Programmes Manager, Isaac Taban, said: “Before the war, there were 44 clinics running [in this area]; now, there are less than 20 health facilities. With the opening of this clinic today, the community is very excited, because they are going to benefit from the services that we’re going to offer.” Carwyn Hill, CEO and co-founder, said “That first promise that we made to this community - to help - has finally come to fruition today, seven years later. We’ve never lost hope during that time, and it was amazing to hear the community today, so thankful and appreciative of the services, and so desperate for them. In the coming weeks you will see this clinic fully up and running!”

We are incredibly grateful to everyone that helped to make this possible. Special thanks go to the UNHCR, The Peter Stebbings Memorial Charity, Eleanor Rathbone Charitable Trust, the Favell Family, our incredible church partners, every single person that donated to our East Africa Rebuild Hope Appeal earlier this year, and those that wish to remain anonymous. Your generosity means the world.