Helping in Sudan
Members of Christ Episcopal Church, Richmond, Virginia, are immersed in a similar project in Rumbek, Sudan, where they hope to build an eight-classroom school for boys and girls in grades nine through 12. Impetus for the project has come from Maker Mabor Marial, who grew up in the village of Akot.

Marial, 28, was one of the "lost boys" of Sudan. He was separated from his family in 1987 when northern government soldiers attacked his village during a 21-year civil war. He and other refugees walked hundreds of miles, eventually ending up in Kenya.

A member of the Episcopal Church of Sudan, he came to Virginia in 2000 and earned an associate's degree at Virginia Commonwealth University. He became close friends with Jennifer and Darryl Ernst, members of Christ Church, and the three founded Hope for Humanity to raise money for education in southern Sudan.

In 2005, Marial returned to Sudan and was reunited with his family. He met with the bishop of the Diocese of Rumbek to plan the project. According to Jennifer Ernst, the Diocese of Rumbek has 100 primary schools but only one secondary school to serve more than one million youth. The illiteracy rate is 80 percent, second highest worldwide, she said.

Hope for Humanity has raised $190,000 but needs another $300,000 to build the school. Marial's family has donated the land, and construction is set to begin this spring.

"This is our passion," Darryl Ernst said. "The best way to empower people is through education. Education is a must. Then people can take care of a lot of things for themselves."

Since it was founded in 2004, Hope for Humanity has provided educational scholarships to nearly 40 Sudanese men. For three years, the organization has sponsored a Walk for Sudan in Richmond to raise money. A fourth walk is scheduled for May 6.

Support from Christ Church parishioners has been "overwhelming," said Darryl Ernst. Through Christmas giving trees, the parish has purchased bicycles and ox ploughs for pastors in Sudan as well as construction supplies for the school.

The Ernsts recently met with representatives from the group Carpenters for Christ, which helped build a clinic in Sudan last year. One carpenter has been funded to oversee construction of the Hope for Humanity school, using equipment and crew provided by Carpenters for Christ.

While the group is focused on building the secondary school, the Ernsts hope their efforts will lead to an ongoing relationship between Christ Church and school officials.

"We'd like to have mission teams help put up blackboards and some day return to teach Bible study," said Darryl Ernst.

For more information about Hope for Humanity or to make a contribution, visit hopeforhumanityinc.org or write to the organization at PO Box 29117, Richmond, VA 23242. For more information about the Sri Lankan project, contact de Silva at St. Alban's Episcopal Church, 3738 Old Sabino Canyon Road, Tucson, AZ 85750.