Main fundraiser photo

Feed My Sheep Refugee Campaign

Donation protected
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has." Margaret Mead

Jesus said, "Do you love me? Feed my sheep."

If you wondered how you can make an immediate and profound difference in a person's life today....

Rice. Flour. Oil. Salt. A cooking pot. A plastic sheet to keep the sun off. It is as basic as it gets. 156 Ethiopian refugees URGENTLY need your help in getting these basic necessities.

Here is their story:

Who are they?

156 recently arrived refugees from the Anuak tribe of the Gambela region of Ethiopia. They are Christian. Most are young adult men and teenage boys who would be killed and widows with young children whose husbands have been killed.

What is the situation?
These 156 refugees are at the Ifo 2 refugee camp on the border of Kenya and Somalia because they were forced from their land"”or would have been murdered if they did not relocate. There is an on-going systematic ethnic cleansing of the Anuak people by outside interests so they can grab the mineral-rich land of the Anuak people. (For further information on this genocide, please see links to articles at the end of this statement.)

These 156 arrived to the camp just as the Kenyan government closed their borders to anymore refugees. Because Kenya closed its borders and has not been registering new refugees, these people cannot receive a Ration Card, which is the only way to receive food aid, supplies, medical attention and the ability to apply for political asylum. They have no access to food, supplies or medical help. WITHOUT A RATION CARD THEY HAVE NO ACCESS TO ANYTHING.

TO HEAR THEIR STORIES, PLEASE WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE!

Aren't there International Aid Agencies and NGO's that can help them?
While there are a few NGO's who work with the camp, mostly with young children, most NGO's have now pulled their aid workers from the area due to increased safety concerns from Islamic militant groups from Somalia. United Nations Refugee assistance cannot help if the Kenyan government does not recognize them as refugees.

What are the needs of the 156?
They need food--rice, maize flour, oil and salt, cooking pots and utensils and plastic sheeting to shelter them. These can be purchased at a market which is over 2 hours away from the camp.

A $1.00 donation will purchase enough salt for one person for the month.

A $5.00 donation will purchase a plastic sheet.

A $100 donation will buy maize flour for a person for a month.

A $384 donation will support one person for a year, or $1.05 per person each day for a year.

How do you know these 156 people? They are family, friends and neighbors of a beloved Ethiopian refugee family who were resettled to the U.S. and came to our church as members (South Congregational Church in Springfield, Massachusetts) in 2010. They fled their village in 2004 when the genocide began and spent time in a refugee camp before finally being resettled in Springfield.

How do I know that my money will get directly to the 156 people and be used for what is needed? We have researched this question extensively. The Anywaa Community Association of Kenya (located in Nairobi, Kenya and consists of former Anuak refugee families) was set up some time ago to support the continued flow of refugee members of the Anuak tribe seeking safety in Kenya. This Association has a rigorous accountability system in place for any financial transactions. We feel confident in its integrity and security.

You can learn more about what others are saying about what the Anuak are facing here:

http://www.mcgillreport.org/genocide.htm

http://www.oaklandinstitute.org/enough-enough-gambella-ethiopia-update

http://www.law.harvard.edu/programs/hrp/clinic/documents/ETHIOPIAREPORT.pdf

http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Africa/2013/0605/East-Africans-told-to-resettle-Are-these-land-grabs-or-progress


Donate

Donations 

  • Anonymous
    • $320 
    • 10 yrs
  • Rev. Susannah Crolius
    • $500 (Offline)
    • 11 yrs
Donate

Organiser

Susannah Crolius
Organiser
Springfield, MA

Your easy, powerful and trusted home for help

  • Easy

    Donate quickly and easily.

  • Powerful

    Send help straight to the people and causes you care about.

  • Trusted

    Your donation is protected by the  GoFundMe Giving Guarantee.