|
In memory of Chuck Breen, for his dedication and tireless efforts for the people of Sudan, MDC has established the "Charlton Breen Refugee Assistance Program Fund (RAPF)." 20% of the general contributions that MDC receives, as well as 100% of the contributions ear-marked for RAP, will be directed to this new fund. In August of 2009, the Michigan Darfur Coalition launched RAP to assist refugees from Sudan who are living in Michigan. Our goal is to help them become self-reliant. Assistance is provided on the basis of the refugee's long term goals and our determination of how we can best help. Depending of the specific needs of the refugee, we may supplement assistance already available or provide assistance when no other alternatives are available. In addition to the five Darfuris currently living in Grand Rapids, a family of seven Darfur refugees arrived on March 24. Click here to see how you can help!
One example of the work RAP provides is tuition assistance. After working with the Department of Education, and the school’s financial aid department to secure financial assistance, MDC may be able to provide additional financial aid for attending college, if a need remains. We have also provided funding for bus passes to get to and from work, GED classes, and driver training fees.
To ensure that this program is successful, we need funding. Please consider making a financial contribution to the Michigan Darfur Coalition today. You can make a secure donation from our web-site, using Pay-Pal. The MDC is a recognized non-profit charitable organization, so your contribution is tax-deductible. Also, consider holding a fundraiser for our Refugee Assistance Program at your: - school
- place of worship
- scout troop
- service organization
In some cases, we may be able to provide a guest speaker for your fundraiser or educational materials. If you need help in organizing an event or if you have any questions about our program, please send your inquiry to
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
For more information about some of the refugees currently in Michigan, please read the article below from The Grand Rapids Press. Three Darfur refugees arrive in Grand Rapids grateful for chance at 'peace, freedom' March 21, 2009, 3:18AM Until Friday, the Darfur refugee crisis did not have a name or face in West Michigan. That changed with the arrival of three refugees from the long-simmering African stalemate that is considered genocide by much of the world. "I am very, very happy to see myself in America," said a beaming man named Abubakar, 31, moments after arriving at Gerald R. Ford International Airport. Abubakar, and two others, Alnill, 46, and Abdulkarim, 31, asked that only their first names be used because of fear of reprisal against family members by the Sudanese government.
Abubakar described a scene in his home village in the Darfur region of Sudan, one that has been recounted by thousands of witnesses since the conflict escalated in 2004: "They are killing people, raping women." They are being supported by Programs Assisting Refugee Acculturation, part of Grand Rapids-based Bethany Christian Services and an organization called Save Darfur Grand Rapids.  Ann Dunlop, 56, president of Save Darfur Grand Rapids and a newly-hired case manager for the refugee program, is grateful for the chance to make at least a small difference in this ongoing humanitarian crisis. Dunlop said the three are the first Darfur refugees to arrive in the Grand Rapids area. "The problem is that it is so big that people don't know where they can jump in to help. One of the problems is that it has been going on for so long that people get sort of immune to hearing about it." Dunlop helped form Save Darfur Grand Rapids in 2006, a coalition of about a hundred people and several churches. Darfur Crisis Hits Home The first refugees arrived in West Michigan on Friday. Bethany Christian Services is aiding resettlement of three Darfur refugees and needs volunteers to teach English, provide transportation and offer counseling for budgeting and other needs. "People have to understand that they do have some power. There are things that they can do." Darfur has been the subject of international scrutiny since 2004, when government troops and a militia group known as the janjaweed moved against a black African rebel movement that complained of neglect from the nation's Muslim government. Backed by the government, the janjaweed carried out widespread civilian killing that led to a massive refugee crisis. The United Nations estimates that the five-year conflict has left 300,000 people dead and 2.7 million more who are believed to have fled their homes in the face of atrocities and the destruction of villages. Compounding the crisis, the President of Sudan, Omar Hassan al-Bashir, was charged earlier this month by the International Criminal Court with five counts of crimes against humanity. Bashir responded by ordering 13 aid organizations serving millions of people in Darfur to suspend their operations on accusations they provided false evidence to the court. Dunlop said she fears the crisis may only deepen. "The expectation is that things will get worse before they get better." Wearing a large plastic name tag around his neck, Abdulkarim said he can only wonder what happened to his mother, father, brothers and sisters. "They kill a lot of people in our area. I have family but, unfortunately, I lost my family in 2005. I don't know what happened to them, whether they are alive or not." Like the others, Abubakar fled Darfur in 2005, walking alone for 15 days to reach the border with Chad. He and the others met for the first time in the refugee camp in Ghana. They learned only days ago they would be coming to a place called Michigan. Abubakar said he is glad to be out of the camp in Ghana, a place he said had "no health (care), no education, no improvement. No life in there." He is eager to find out what his life here might bring. "It's my dream. I know that America is peace, freedom. I miss all this a long time." |
You are here::
Southern Sudan Health Care Organization is an organization created to provide relief and support to the people of Southern Sudan. Started by Jacob Atem, one of the Lost Boys of Sudan, his vision is to raise funds to build a medical clinic to serve the needy in Southern Sudan.
