Help Me Live/Help Me Read

In 2007-2008 I forewent my senior year as a scholarship football player at Appalachian State University to work in Southern Sudan with Samaritan's Purse inc. After that experience I started my own 501(c)3 Non-profit organization called Why The Woods in order to help the village of Wadupe, which I had encountered during my time in South Sudan. In 2009, after many speeches and fundraisers, I was able to lead a group of 7 volunteers into the village of Wadupe for two months. In that time we drilled 2 wells held hygiene seminars, built a house for future projects, and trained the village men how to use a hydro-form brick press; we also provided jobs for the community, and distributed clothes, soccer balls and school materials. The men of the village are currently making bricks using local dirt, the brick press and cement we provided. The bricks, along with other materials we provide will be used to construct the school and latrine facilities that will benefit 450 students. We are hiring up to 4 trained Sudanese teachers to live in the village and operate a teacher training program for the 14 volunteer teachers in Wadupe. Everything we do is focused on educating the people and offering them an opportunity to advance their community. The community will build the school and Sudanese will run the teacher training program. We believe in limiting the role of outsiders in order to develop a sense of accomplishment, ability, and hope amongst the oppressed Sudanese people. In addition to the impact we have already made in Wadupe with two wells and hygiene seminars, we have also encouraged adults, students and children to become more active in sharing resources with people in need. Groups and individuals in the U.S. have become involved with local and foreign missions because of the work and ideas promoted by Why The Woods. We have been able to speak to hundreds of people about the need for clean drinking water and education in Southern Sudan. Students and adults of all ages have voluntarily held fundraisers and events to promote Why The Woods and the Help Me Live/Help Me Read project. I plan to lead a new group of volunteers to Wadupe in 2010 to launch the school construction and teacher training program. After the work in Wadupe is complete we plan to expand the project into surrounding villages and possibly other countries that share the same needs.