Sudan
According to recent United Nations estimates, at least 400,000 people have died in Darfur since the genocide began in February 2003, and the numbers rise every day. There are approximately 3.5 million men, women and children in the western Darfur region of Sudan who spend their days and nights just trying to survive the violence and forced starvation. Often, parents are murdered in front of their children, and children are left to take care of themselves.
These children, numbering in the thousands, currently sleep outside—vulnerable to weather and wildlife. The death rate of un-housed orphans is very high due to this exposure. Last year, one community in southern Sudan experienced the death of nearly 300 orphaned children who died at night as a direct result of the lack of a safe place to sleep.
Sweet Sleep, through an established partnership with African Leadership, is providing beds, bedding and mosquito netting to a newly opened girl’s orphanage just outside of the war-torn Darfur region.
A second orphanage, one for boys, is slated to open in late 2008 or early 2009. Sweet Sleep’s goal is to raise the necessary funds to provide 360 beds for these children—who then will finally have a safe place to call home. They will also receive love, care, protection, counseling and discipleship from indigenous Christian leaders working at the school.
