Canadian Jesuits International (CJI) supports the Sowing Seeds of Transformation project of the Jesuits Eastern Africa Province. This project helps local communities in South Sudan get education and support. It also helps strengthen their learning centers and community institutions.
After decades of civil war in Sudan, the country separated into Sudan and the new nation South Sudan. Today, both countries still face political, social, and economic problems. In South Sudan, nine million people, or about 75% of the population, will likely need humanitarian assistance in 2024. There are 2.2 million internally displaced people in South Sudan and 2.3 million South Sudanese refugees in neighbouring countries.
AOR has been running a school, college, and institute since 2018, with help from CJI and other members of the Xavier Network. Education is given priority because it is needed, and it transforms lives. AOR also offers vocational training, peace initiatives, and pastoral programs. These programs help people in South Sudan earn money and build hope.
CJI has supported the Jesuits of Eastern Africa Province’s Sowing Seeds of Transformation project for years. Its programs have helped thousands of people.
CJI also supports an AOR project to help build the resilience and self-reliance of communities in Kajiado County, Kenya that are affected by climate change. The project will provide food aid, a water supply, and healthcare to alleviate food insecurity and malnutrition in 400 households. The project will provide practical training to increase the capacity of small-scale farmers in climate-smart agricultural practices, such as conservation farming, efficient water management techniques, and planting drought-resistant crop varieties. The project will also collaborate with local leaders and schools to encourage community and student participation in tree planting.
The project at a glance:
Beneficiaries
- Forcibly displaced people, returnees, and local host communities. Their programs are open to all people regardless of ethnic or religious background.
- 400 households affected by climate change in Kajiado County, Kenya.
Budget: CJI contribution for Sowing Seeds for Social Transformation project (2025): $60,000; Strengthening climate-affected communities in Kenya: $14,294
Activities:
- Primary education and school feeding program
- Secondary education
- Digital literacy training, life skills
- Science education for girls
- Vocational training (basic solar and electrical installations, construction, auto mechanics and welding)
- Certification from Jesuit Worldwide Learning (English courses)
- Improved agricultural productivity and post-harvest management training for farmers
- Food for Work in drought-stricken areas
- Peacebuilding workshops and learning visits
- Improvement of school facilities (latrines, kitchen, roof, infirmary, multipurpose hall)
- Support 400 households in Kajiado County, Kenya, by providing food items; Procure and distribute food items such as maize, beans, and rice
- Conduct capacity-building workshops for smallholder farmers on climate-smart technologies.
- Hold a tree planting exercise. Identify suitable sites for planting trees in collaboration with local communities and leaders. Mobilize community members, including students, to participate in tree planting. Provide practical training on tree care and maintenance to ensure the long-term survival and growth of the trees. Ensure that each student adopts a tree and takes responsibility for its care.
International Programs
