Today, all eyes and thoughts are on Europe’s third largest Island best known for potatoes, Shamrocks, and the reason for the season: St. Patrick’s Day. It has, however, not always been all bliss for the country that produced the Saint of the day, St. Patrick, as mass starvation, disease, and emigration during the Potato famine coupled with decades of violence between Catholics and Protestants brought much civil unrest.
Though St. Patrick’s Day is not that popular in Africa—save for Catholics attending Lent Mass, who take a minute to remember the patron and his contribution—the events of the past resound in the hearts and minds of the people of South Sudan. Like Ireland, the civil war in Sudan saw a lot of internally displaced persons (IDPs), starvation, and emigration among other vices. People who bore the brunt most are women and children as most of the men, young and old, were recruited as soldiers.
Peace agreements have been signed by both nations with Ireland and Northern Ireland signing the Belfast Agreement in 1998 and the Government of Sudan and the SPLM party signing the Comprehensive Peace Agreement in 2005 that saw the provision of a referendum of succession. The referendum voting conducted early this year saw 98.83% of South Sudanese voting to succeed and subsequently those in exile trickling back to their homeland to empower it and help in its development.
As you consider joining the world in wearing the green or indulging in Irish beer or some corn beef, potatoes, or cabbage, take a moment to think of the people of South Sudan, trying to rebuild their country as the people of Ireland once did. You can be the “saint” they so seek by sponsoring a child to school, helping a woman bear a child safely, being a volunteer or asking your friends to skip a mug or two and instead donate the money to Hope Ofiriha. In South Sudan most people live off less than 80 euro cents per day (less than one U.S. dollar), so a gift of any size–large or small–makes a huge impact.
Happy St. Patrick’s Day from the Hope Ofiriha team!!!
