Blog

In this blog I will keep you informed about developments in South Sudan and Uganda. Developments related to our projects, but also all kinds of other things worth knowing. Enjoy! Jaco van Maaren – African Mission

02/10/25

Emergency appeal from South Sudan: Help us with internet and emergency aid for flood victims

We recently received an urgent appeal from Bishop Stephen Dokolo of Lui, South Sudan. He wrote to us with a double request for help!

24/10/24

Emergency Call Lui Hospital

Our long-standing partner, Doctors With Africa CUAMM from Italy, has stopped working at Lui Hospital and has moved out. We are now struggling to find another international Christian organization that can help us provide healthcare services.

10/02/24

Website for Lui Hospital

The Lui Hospital (Health Sciences Institute) is, besides the hospital in the capital Juba, the only major hospital in the east of South Sudan. African Mission, together with Pixel Creation, has created a website for this important hospital.

17/08/23

Ceilings Boschetti School

We would like to install ceilings in the classrooms of the Pietro Boschetti School. Ceilings serve as insulation for both sound and temperature.

15/07/23

The Dam Project – Lui

The Dam Project was set up by the government in 2011-2012, just south of Lui. There is a lot in the 2013-2020 war destroyed unfortunately. How is it now?

19/06/23

Farewell rituals of the Moru

In South Sudan many young people die from a lack of medical knowledge and facilities, from unbalanced nutrition and from armed conflicts. Saying goodbye to loved ones is the order of the day.

30/05/23

Breaking news Borehole Lui Hospital

Today the drilling was done for water. Water has been tapped at a depth of 115 m. It went without any problems, thanks to the good geological research of CUAMM, the underground rocks were avoided.

13/05/23

Meeting with the board

Today we have a meeting with the board of the African Mission foundation. We discussed many things and made decisions.

06/05/23

Disturbances in borders near Yambio

In the past week, thousands of civilians in Source Yubo, near Yambio, on the Democratic Republic of Congo border have fled new violence.

03/05/23

Two months into the rainy season

On March 3, 2023, the weather turned. Heavy downpours during the night left no doubt, the rainy season has begun!

22/04/23

What can South Sudan do?

Terrible news about Sudan. An armed battle between the army and the RSF (Rapid Support Forces). What is the impact on South Sudan? What can we do?

08/04/23

Insight into Belgium’s colonial past

Een verhaal van zo’n 125 jaar geleden over de ‘Menselijke zoo van Tervuren’. Een dieptriest evenement in de koloniale geschiedenis van België.

15/03/23

Moru tukuls according to traditional architecture

The South Sudanese tukuls are built according to traditional architecture. The Moru have a lot of knowledge about the construction of tukuls and in particular they know better than anyone how to make the grass roofs watertight.

10/03/23

Lui Hospital in trouble

The second hospital in South Sudan is the Lui Hospital. The Lui Hospital is not supported by the national government because there is no money.

07/03/23

Support Women and Children in Conflict

Since the establishment of Support Women and Children in Conflict (SWCC) foundation in April 2017, African Mission has successfully collaborated with SWCC.

01/03/23

Doei groei!

Last Christmas I received a scarf from project developer Schipper Bosch with a message; Bye growth!

27/02/23

First Schoolday Boschetti School

Last Saturday was the opening ceremony of the Boschetti school with the transfer of the building to the church. Now, Monday: the first day of school!

25/02/23

Festive opening dr. Pietro Boschetti Primary School

On Saturday, February 25, 2023 we celebrated a big party. The Pietro Boschetti School is officially open!

23/02/23

Help the displaced near Jambo

Een groot aantal ontheemden (meer dan 3.000) bevinden zich in de bosjes nabij Jambo. Vrouwen en kinderen, ze zijn alles verloren.

13/02/23

Opening ceremony St. Veronica Chapel

Today is the festive opening of the St. Veronica Chapel. After cutting the ribbon by Jaco van Maaren it's party time!

14/01/23

Traditional clearcutting got out of hand

Now, in January 2023, you can smell burnt wood everywhere when you are in South Sudan or northern Uganda. Even if you fly over South Sudan with a small plane (we fly with the MAF), the landscape will largely disappear. These fires are caused by humans with often disastrous consequences for nature.

02/12/22

Solar panels Boschetti School replaced

After a number of solar panels were stolen last summer, we now have good news. We were able to replace the panels with new ones.

10/11/22

School furniture on the way

After a number of solar panels were stolen last summer, we now have good news. We were able to replace the panels with new ones.

04/10/22

Symbol for blood and hope, the flame tree

This special tree, the Erythrina abyssinica, can be seen here and there in the landscape of South Sudan. Special because of the bright red flowers that bloom in a dry period.

30/09/22

Life expectancy in South Sudan

South Sudan has the lowest life expectancy of all countries in the world. For years, South Sudan has been in the top 5 when it comes to the lowest life expectancy.

13/08/22

Lui Hospital in further disrepair

Lui's hospital continues to fall into disrepair as the problems only get worse.

10/07/22

In the footsteps of Rev. Kenneth Fraser

Rev. Fraser has turned the lives of the Moru upside down. The Christian faith has come to the Moru through him.

15/05/22

The Bible in Moru language

African Mission has supported a small project in Lui where Bibles have been distributed to the people of the Christian community.

30/04/22

Solar panels for Boschetti School

Today the finishing touches were put to solar panels on the roof of the Boschetti School. The generated energy is stored in a battery of batteries.

12/04/22

Coconut tree from South Sudan

This special tree with its large orange fruits is a blessing for South Sudan. In the dry season it is very difficult to get fruit or vegetables in South Sudan.

26/01/22

Exterior facades finished!

The Boschetti School is being used more and more by the students. The school looks good from the outside. We are still looking for sponsors to finish the inside, to purchase the interior. Teaching materials are also required. Will you please help us?

29/10/21

Floors of toilets blocks ready

In recent months it has rained a lot in Lui, which has brought the construction of the latrines to a complete standstill.

30/04/21

Latrines Boschetti school

At the beginning of March 2021, we started funding to raise USD 20,000 to build latrines for the Boschetti school.

14/04/21

Roof Boschetti Primary School is being realized

The project started in 2010, but construction was halted in December 2013 due to the civil war. Our last visit to this project was in October 2013.

17/03/21

Blue pump (2x) installed in Juba

The latest pumps that we have installed in Juba are Blue pumps. Both blue pumps were struck near large school complexes on public land. As a result, many people have access to the clean drinking water that these pumps provide.

15/12/20

Well repairs 2020 – project completed

In 2019, we repaired a total of 10 wells (we are now talking about wells 11, 12, 13 and 14). Costs per well are between € 1,200 and € 2,200.

13/07/20

Death assistant bishop Fraser Yugu

The body was brought to Juba today July 12, 2020 and the funeral will take place on Tuesday July 14, 2020 in Juba. Death was caused by kidney failure.

18/03/20

St. Mark School in Wau

The St. Mark school is a small school with about 30 students. The school is located in Wau, in the north of South Sudan.

27/01/20

St. Veronica’s Chapel under roof

De St. Veronica Chapel bevindt zich in een kleine plaats in Adjumani District, Chiforo Sub-County, West Nile, Uganda.

14/11/19

Repairs water wells Juba

Er zijn inmiddels vijf waterputten gerepareerd en aan twee andere wordt momenteel gewerkt.

01/10/19

In memoriam Annemarie Boschetti

Annemarie Boschetti – van der Griendt is de hoofdsponsor van de Pietro Boschetti Primary School in Lui.

20/06/19

Learning to read in Moru language

In the Mundri region (Western Equatoria, South Sudan), most children are not taught writing, reading and arithmetic.

03/05/19

Food aid Wau

African Mission sends a monthly donation to the refugees in Wau.

05/03/19

New latrine Trumpeter Community Health Project

The volunteers of the Trumpeter Community are very active, they have mapped the area through home visits in the past year.

13/01/19

Food distribution Juba

Thanks to your support, we have been able to provide food to poor families in Juba.

30/06/18

Trumpeters WASH project in Juba

The WASH project in Juba was set up by AID England. African Mission has participated in this project.

21/03/15

Sylvador Abdelrahman

Our work in Sudan started with Sylvador Abdelrahman. Together we have been able to do great work in both The Sudan and South Sudan.

23/07/14

Prepared for a trip to South Sudan

Good preparation is half the battle. What can you do to gain a pleasant experience?

02/01/12

My passion for Uganda and South Sudan

My name is Jaco van Maaren and I have been involved in the work of the African Mission Foundation for a long time.

17/07/10

Holiday home from Annemarie Boschetti

One day in 2009 I got a call from Annemarie Boschetti. She was triggered by the title of our newsletter 'Help South Sudan now!' Annemarie lived in Umbria, Italia.

26/10/09

Agriculture project Yei River

The Yei River runs from the Congo-Uganda-South Sudan border triangle to the north of Western Equatoria. Near Lozoh (about 30 km below Lui) we support an arable farming project.

26/05/09

Water wells in Lui area

Several wells have been realized in a large area. For this we used the 'indian pump'. A water pump has also been hit next to the Fraser Memorial Cathedral in Lui.

10/05/09

Board in 2009

Composition of the board: chairman, secretary and treasurer. In addition, two 'general adjuncts'.

25/09/07

Sea containers ZEEMAN 2007

In the past year, we were able to send two sea containers of relief supplies to Lui Parish. Main sponsor: ZEELAND Textile.

25/06/07

Water well Lui Parish Church

This is the first well that we realize in South Sudan. This well is located in Lui, near the Lui Parish Church. Many more pits will follow after this, but this is the first!

15/08/05

Focus on South Sudan

Since 2005, the African Mission Foundation has focused primarily on supporting the Moru in South Sudan.

01/05/05

Refugee camps around Khartoum

There have been working visits to Sudan even before 2000. From 2002 - 2004 we maintained close contacts with the congregation of the All Saints Cathedral in Khartoum.

15/01/02

Trip to Meroe

Vanuit Khartoum bezoeken we verschillende bijzondere locaties in het noorden van Sudan, de sixth cataract en de piramides van Meroë.

01/01/02

Welcome in The Sudan

Today, January 1, 2002, I set foot on the ground in 'The Sudan' for the first time. A special experience you will never forget!