2011 Projects

Turalei, Sudan, Africa

The small village of Turalei is situated in southern Sudan 800 miles from the capital, Khartoum. One of the most underdeveloped regions of the world, many of the villages in southern Sudan were pillaged and left for ruin during the Sudanese genocide, including Turalei. Best known as the homeland of former NBA star Manute Bol, the village is has tried desperately to recover and provide for its people.

During his life, it was the passion of Mr. Bol to help restore his home village. “The key to peace is education,” he said about the situation in Sudan, and he made a promise to bring education to the Turalei people. There are more than 300 students and 20 teachers in the village, with no schoolhouse. Teachers hold classes under trees and during the rainy season there is often no school. The hardships of everyday living for the southern Sudanese are something we cannot even imagine.

Although Mr. Bol passed away in June 2010, his promise and passion have been carried forward. The well for Turalei was completed mid-October 2010, allowing Manute Bol’s dream of education for his people to move one step closer to reality.