How it All Started
In 1987 a civil war broke out between North and South Sudan that lasted 22 years. The war devastated South Sudan, leaving many homeless and without food or water. As a result, many innocent people, adults and children, are still suffering and dying from preventable and treatable diseases such as malaria, meningitis, dysentery, tuberculosis, typhoid, Kalazar (visceral leishmaniasis), and other infectious diseases. Being such a remote place, getting simple pain relief is very difficult, let alone treating infectious diseases. Sadly, many women lose their lives during pregnancy or delivery, and many infants die at birth and many more do not reach their 2nd birthday.
According to a UN report, it is estimated that over two million people have died and over four million were displaced or forced out of their homes in South Sudan during the 22 year long civil war. Panrieng, Sudan is one of the area’s most devastated, and therefore, there are virtually no health care services in the region. And with a lack of NGOs or UN agencies operating there, it will likely take decades to overcome many of these insurmountable challenges facing people in these remote villages. To make matters worse, refugees who were displaced by war two decades ago are now returning to villages, where there are shortage of basic human needs such as shelters, food and medical supplies.
About South Sudan Village Care Foundation
South Sudan Village Care Foundation is a not for profit organization formed in Rochester, NY to make the dream of one of those “lost boys” of the Sudan a reality by building a medical clinic in his war-torn village to treat many preventable diseases and to bring hope to the people there.
The lost boys and girls of the Sudan were a group of young children that were driven out of their villages in 1987 by the Islamic regime in northern Sudan. It was a long journey that took the lost boys and girls years walking from one refugee camp to another. But in 2001, many were given the opportunity to come the U.S.A., with the help of the world churches, the UNHCR, and the U.S. government. During this process, Palath Thonchar was relocated to Rochester, NY., where he still resides today.
In 2009, Palath returned to his village in South Sudan to reunite with his family. While there was much happiness in returning home, Palath witnessed the devastation and suffering in his community and vowed to assist in any way he could. This is when Palath started the South Sudan Village Care Foundation, with the goal of building a medical clinic that would greatly improve the health and general living conditions in the region.
In August of 2013 the clinic was completed and Palath’s dream of providing much needed medical services to the area was finally realized. Please visit our Take Action page to learn how you can help or learn more about the Clinic.
