SVP president cycles Camino to raise funds for projects in Sudan

John Beckett

A District President in the St Vincent de Paul Society has embarked on a 800 km cycle ride to raise funds for projects in Sudan. John Beckett, from East Herts, is going from St Jean-de-Pied-de Port in France to Santiago de Compostela in Spain, setting off from Biarritz to start the ride from St Jean-de Pied-de-Port on 4 September. If all goes well, John should arrive in Santiago on 16 September.

For many years the Sudan has been embroiled in a civil war and difficulties arising from the war are still being felt by the SVP members and their beneficiaries both in the Sudan and South Sudan.

Below, are just some of the work and projects undertaken by the SVP in the Sudan over many years.

Baby Feeding: Up to 10,000 small children at any one time, depending on need, have received five meals per week in 16 centres on the outskirts of the capital, Khartoum, including babies living in jail with their mothers. As a result of falling donations, the SVP in Khartoum area has drastically cut programmes of support which have grown over the last 30 years, including the baby feeding programme which has had to be halved.

Street Children Program: The SVP has supported as many as 760 street children in the Khartoum area providing them with food, safe accommodation and schooling. Pre-School children receive nourishing food from the SVP’s Baby Feeding Centres which are located in the Internally Displaced Person Camps around Khartoum and the Lologo Centre near Juba (South Sudan).

Medical Program: The management of The Comboni Health Centre located in the district of Haj Yossif, Khartoum is the responsibility of its parish. The SVP which is supportive of the centre which provides high quality and low cost care will now support three doctors only, whereas until now the Society used to fund part of the remuneration of 23 employees in the Centre. To compensate, the Centre will have to increase the prices of its services.

Vocational Training Centres: The SVP’s Vocational Training Centres are providing training courses in carpentry, masonry, computing, electrical, vehicle repair and tailoring - for both men and women. A survey has shown that over three quarters of the graduates are now financially independent. The schemes also provide health awareness, adult literacy, first aid, a clinic to help all in the local community and a herbal medicine project.

If you would like more information on the SVP’s work in the Sudan and South Sudan you can visit the SVP’s twinnage website at www.twinnage.org.uk.

John is paying all his own costs so any donations made will go directly to the Sudan Appeal. If you would like to sponsor John go to: www.virginmoneygiving.com/JohnBeckett1.