2007 Connor Diocesan Synod backs launch  of Yei Schools Project  
  In a detailed and extremely interesting presentation, the Ven Stephen Forde, Archdeacon of Dalriada, launched the Yei Schools Project at Diocesan Synod on October 11 2007. This was the first stage in the partnership with Yei, ratified at the 2006 Synod. Archdeacon Forde outlined how the Council for Mission would aim to raise £80,000 to complete the construction of a school in the rural town of Mongo. A classroom without walls in Mongo.  
 
Although only 15 miles from Yei town, it takes an hour and a half to reach Mongo by road, a journey Archdeacon Forde undertook during his visit to Southern Sudan in January. The area was devastated by a civil war lasting more than 20 years.		  
  Mongo schoolchildren proudly wearing their uniforms. “Most of the children at the school will until recently have lived in refugee camps or in the bush,” said Archdeacon Forde. “Bishop Hilary of Yei is passionate about providing them with an education. The Bishop has a passion, the Bishop has a vision.”

That vision includes a brick built school in each of the six archdeaconries in Yei. One in the capital town is completed, another is being built with funding from two dioceses in the South of Ireland.		  
  Illustrating the existing conditions in Mongo School, Archdeacon Forde showed pictures of classrooms at a primary school in Larne with pupils doing PE and the principal showing off the lovely new computer suite.
Then he showed contrasting images of pupils in Mongo, seated on rickety sticks taking lessons under a mango tree, or in dusty classrooms with rotten roofs, no windows, and no desks. When it rains, the classes under the mango trees have to be cancelled, he explained.		  
  Pointing out the children’s smart uniforms, Archdeacon Forde said: “The uniform is an indication of the pride these people have in their children and their desire to see their children progress.”

Mongo was adopted as a project by Agherton Parish in Portstewart which is well on its way to raising its target of £20,000 for a classroom. As a Diocese, Archdeacon Forde said Connor hopes to build on this established link with the aim of providing sufficient funds to complete the entire school, including three classrooms, an administration/teaching block and toilet block.
 Archdeacon Stephen Forde with Bishop Hilary in Yei earlier this year.  
 

Guests at Synod were shown work the children complete in their school in Mongo. “There is no sense the education the children receive in southern Sudan is inferior to the education they receive here in Northern Ireland,” said Archdeacon Forde. “They follow a similar syllabus, but are handicapped because they have no desks to lean on and no pens to write with, yet these are the future leaders of southern Sudan.”

The archdeacon said Bishop Hilary had identified assistance with education as a priority of the partnership.  The archdeacon said: “It is a project that allows every parish in the diocese to have an involvement in the partnership. Every parish will be aware of something that is happening in Yei and it allows every parish to engage in prayer.”

Archdeacon Forde said some parishes may want to take this on in a sponsorship way and identify it as a project they want to work towards and do some special fundraising events or as a project they want to focus on over Christmas time, while others may be unable to give a financial contribution but can support the project with their good will, prayers and an awareness of what’s happening.

If every parish in Connor raised £750, the equivalent of £2 per parishioner, the £80,000 target could be reached, Archdeacon Forde told Synod.

Emphasising that this was the first step in developing the partnership with Yei he said: “We will also need people with practical and theological skills to go to Yei and train the trainers, and there may also be the chance for youth teams to go out.”
 
The Motion, which acknowledged the progress made in developing the link with Yei; encouraged parishes to support the link, and commended that practical support be given to the project to build a school in Yei was seconded by Mavis Gibbons, Lambeg Parish. The Motion was carried.

Brochures on how to support the Yei Schools’ project are being sent to every parish, and can soon be downloaded from the Mission section on the diocesan website.