Since independence, southern Sudan has known little but civil war. The most recent conflict began in 1983 and mired the region in extreme poverty and suffering. Hundreds of thousands of civilians died from violence, hunger and disease as a result of the conflict, and millions more were forced from their homes.

The Comprehensive Peace Agreement was finally signed in January 2005. The task now facing the government of southern Sudan and the international community is the reconstruction of the country and the reintegration of hundreds of thousands of returning refugees and internally displaced people. In 2011, southern Sudan will vote on whether they want to remain part of Sudan or become an independent country. 

ARC will continue to provide services in southern Sudan and work to build the capacity of the government and local community organizations to serve the local population.

Milestones:

In September 2006, Finance Sudan, an ARC microfinance institution, began operations. It is one of only two such institutions currently operating in the region. Finance Sudan has given small loans to hundreds of entrepreneurs, more than half of them women.

Since 2006, ARC has been implementing a major, long-term initiative to expand comprehensive reproductive health care services in southern Sudan (as well as in Darfur). We’re addressing emergency obstetrics, family planning, sexually transmitted infections, HIV/AIDS, and the clinical management of rape.

Current Needs:

ARC has recently initiated the Through Our Eyes project in southern Sudan. The project uses hands-on video and community participation to get people talking about gender-based violence and how to prevent it.

Participants produce video dramas and documentaries on such issues as rape, wife-beating, sexually-transmitted infections and forced marriage. The videos are then shown at community forums, which spark discussions about how to solve the problems. The goal of Through Our Eyes is to amplify the voices of change from within communities.