Connecting Gharbu
Donation protected
Our work mate, Ali, joined NAB through the African Australian Inclusion Program (AAIP). He now enjoys working as an Analyst in NAB’s Technology division. He’s one of the nicest guys you’ll ever meet; kind and smart, always smiling and up for a chat.
But life hasn’t always been easy for Ali. When he was a young boy growing up in South Sudan, his family home was burnt to the ground and they had to flee for their lives. They weren’t alone. In South Sudan thousands of people have been murdered and an estimated two million people have fled their homes in fear.
Ali’s mother took him and his brothers to a small island in the middle of the Nile River, called Gharbu Island. Life was tough on Gharbu, but at least they were safe. Ali’s mother struggled to make ends meet by farming, and somehow scraped together enough money to send her boys to school. She always told Ali that an education is the key to changing the world. Ali has fond memories from his childhood of his mother telling him stories about Nelson Mandela and the importance of education. Before he left his family to come to Australia, Ali made two solemn promises to his mother. First, that he would get a University education, and second, that he would help the people on Gharbu Island. In 2013, Ali fulfilled his first promise when he graduated with a Bachelor of Information Technology. Now it’s time for him to fulfil his second promise to his mother.
Gharbu Island is painfully isolated from the mainland. There is no way for the public to easily travel across the river which separates them from Juba, South Sudan’s capital. The river is wide and home to snakes and crocodiles. The current is strong and the weather unpredictable. This has wide reaching impacts, including making it near impossible for Gharbu’s children to attend school.
To assist Ali to change the future of his community, we have formed a project which is raising funds to build a motorised boat for the people of Gharbu Island.
We need to raise $15,000 to provide a locally-built, motorised, safe boat which will transport up to 15 people at a time. This boat will connect the people of Gharbu to their wider community. The outcomes will be far reaching. Life will be easier for all of Gharbu’s people, but most importantly, Gharbu’s children will be given the opportunity of an education.
We appreciate your support and assistance.
Thank you.
But life hasn’t always been easy for Ali. When he was a young boy growing up in South Sudan, his family home was burnt to the ground and they had to flee for their lives. They weren’t alone. In South Sudan thousands of people have been murdered and an estimated two million people have fled their homes in fear.
Ali’s mother took him and his brothers to a small island in the middle of the Nile River, called Gharbu Island. Life was tough on Gharbu, but at least they were safe. Ali’s mother struggled to make ends meet by farming, and somehow scraped together enough money to send her boys to school. She always told Ali that an education is the key to changing the world. Ali has fond memories from his childhood of his mother telling him stories about Nelson Mandela and the importance of education. Before he left his family to come to Australia, Ali made two solemn promises to his mother. First, that he would get a University education, and second, that he would help the people on Gharbu Island. In 2013, Ali fulfilled his first promise when he graduated with a Bachelor of Information Technology. Now it’s time for him to fulfil his second promise to his mother.
Gharbu Island is painfully isolated from the mainland. There is no way for the public to easily travel across the river which separates them from Juba, South Sudan’s capital. The river is wide and home to snakes and crocodiles. The current is strong and the weather unpredictable. This has wide reaching impacts, including making it near impossible for Gharbu’s children to attend school.
To assist Ali to change the future of his community, we have formed a project which is raising funds to build a motorised boat for the people of Gharbu Island.
We need to raise $15,000 to provide a locally-built, motorised, safe boat which will transport up to 15 people at a time. This boat will connect the people of Gharbu to their wider community. The outcomes will be far reaching. Life will be easier for all of Gharbu’s people, but most importantly, Gharbu’s children will be given the opportunity of an education.
We appreciate your support and assistance.
Thank you.
Organizer
Bernadette Shanahan
Organizer
Melbourne VIC
