July 19, 2011 marked the conclusion of the Pongborong Primary School Project by the Ayual Community Development Association of America.
The conclusion was marked by the final payment of the contractual agreement to the construction company in Juba, Republic of South Sudan by ACDA representative Mabior Maluk, who in return received a written warranty receipt of structural integrity from Ajak Manyok, representative of Rhino Stars Construction Co. This warranty requires the construction company to cover all future material and labor costs for the repair and or maintenance of the school until January 19, 2012.
This project covered a time period of over 12 years and included the leadership of three different administrations beginning with David Gak, followed by Peter Bul and concluding with John Maluk Yak. But its roots began even before that and the ACDA can trace its beginning to the Kakuma Refugee Camp in Kenya. Since that time, the American Ayual community has made a concerted and consistent effort to provide assistance and support to the Ayual community in Twic East County of Jonglei State.
But the process has been neither easy nor clear and while the desire of the community has always been strong, the direction has not. Many discussions and debates were held by the membership to determine the most needed and most cost effective approach. Much of the debate centered on the areas of health, education, agriculture and clean water. After an assessment team was sent to the Wangulei/Pongborong area, it was determined that a health clinic should be given the highest priority and a preliminary plan was developed. But due to projected construction and staffing costs, it was abandoned.
At that time, it was decided to build a school and cost feasibility projections were initiated. Two designs were submitted with their respective cost estimates and one was selected to be built. A three member team was then sent to South Sudan to negotiate a construction contract. Rhino Stars Construction Co. from Juba was selected and construction began in early 2010 and concluded on July 19, 2011.
Ayual Community Development Association (ACDA), a Philadelphia-based 501(c)3 non-profit organization founded by the Lost Boys and Girls of Sudan, was created out a desire to promote positive change in our people's lives by providing educational support, health care needs, and emergency assistance to our people in Southern Sudan and in the Diaspora. In the 20th century, the outbreak of war between Sudan People Liberation Army and the government of the Sudan has had devastating effects on our entire community. Our people have been adversely affected socially, politically, economically, emotionally, physically, and educationally.
ACDA MISSION
Our mission is to promote positive change in our people's today lives and to build and enhance our community in which they survive the ordeal. That means helping to create opportunity in the lives of no-income young people and their families - and working to improve the quality of life in the Ayual community that shape and bring them a bright future.