Rural School Project moving on
TONJ, Sudan

Luca Bonfili, VIS Construction Manager in Sudan, (foto) returns to Tonj after a break to attend a VIS Africa meeting in Addis Ababa. Luca is coordinating the work of about 13 workers (both from Kenya, Uganda and Sudan) to build 10 rural schools in the underserved areas of Tonj County in Southern Sudan. In spite of a number of logistical challenges, the work is progressing nicely; the first school in the Babcok village is reaching the final stage of construction and Luca is already setting up the work for the second rural school. Under the fine leadership of Mr. Bonfili, the workers are doing a phenomenal job working tiressly to meet the tight deadlines. Thank you very much guys for your terrific work!

Don Bosco Network meets SDB
in Khartoum
KHARTOUM, Sudan

On October 20-21 the first two-day meeting of the Don Bosco Network (DBN) and Salesians of Don Bosco (SDB) took place in Khartoum, at the St. Joseph's Vocational Training Centre. The participants to the meeting: Fr Jacob Thelekkadan (SDB), Fr. George Madathett (SDB), Hans-Jürgen Dörrich (DBN President), Massimo Zortea (VIS President), Ivanka Dante, (VIS), Cristina Majorano (VIS) and Andrea Naletto (VIS). Among the results of the meeting is the elaboration of the "Principles of cooperation and collaboration between the PDO and the DBN office in Sudan" in order to plan the way ahead in Sudan and to better cooperate each other's effort to bring about lasting changes for the Sudanese youth.

VIS President visits VIS-DBN
projects in Sudan
KHARTOUM, Sudan

Mr. Massimo Zortea - along with Miss. Ivanka Dante (VIS Sudan Desk in Rome) - undertook his first official visit to Sudan. He met with VIS expatriates in Tonj, in which 2 major VIS projects are being implemented. The picture on the left shows Mr. Zortea and Miss. Dante discussing with Sr. Juliette abou the project "Improving the Status of Women in the Tonj County, Sudan". They were all warmly welcomed by the Self-Help Group (SHG) of women with some local singing and dancing.

Happy 1st Anniversary DBN-VIS Programme in Sudan
KHARTOUM, Sudan

Dear friend of Sudan,
today I am pleased to announce the 1st anniversary of "VIS-DBN Programme."

Precisely a year ago, as today, a VIS team arrived in Khartoum to set
up the VIS Country office, now the coordinating agency for the Don
Bosco Network Sudan Programme.

365 days down the road, 5 VIS international staff are on the ground across Sudan implementing projects in 5 different locations, reaching out to the Sudanese people — especially the youth, the poorest andmost needy ones.

From offering job-oriented vocational training to youth IDP in Khartoum and Darfur, to improving access to schooling for returnees communities in Southern Sudan, to the empowerment of women through livelihood skills training, VIS-DBN — together with its primary partner the Salesians of Don Bosco — are giving concrete hopes of a brighter future to thousands of Sudanese people.

The challenge ahead of us is enormous, yet VIS-DBN stands convinced to partner the Salesian Family, the local government and the larger international community to empower the Sudanese people to rebuild
their own country, torn by 23 years of civil war.

We are particularly grateful to the Salesian Delegation of Sudan and to all the Salesians, cooperators and lay people tirelessly working for the Sudanese people from North to South. A special thank goes to the FMA communities in Sudan, the DBN members and to all the friends
of the work of Don Bosco in Sudan.

Thank you all very much for your support.

Best wishes,

Andrea Naletto
Country Representative, VIS Sudan
sudanvis@gmail.com

New Area Coordinator
for Southern Sudan
WAU, Sudan

Mr. Salvatore Sortino is the new area coordinator for Southern Sudan, based in Wau (Western Bhar El Ghazal State).
We welcome him and we wish him all the best for his coordinating role of VIS-DNB's projects in Southern Sudan.

CHF project for Darfur youth.
KHARTOUM, Sudan

UNDP local office in Khartoum has approved the release of the first intallment of funds to VIS for the project "Provision of job-oriented vocational training to youngsters from Darfur region". The project's -- whose specific objective is "Improving opportunities for employment and better livelihood for boys and girls from Darfur and to contribute to the long-term coping mechanisms for conflict affected populations" -- will be implemented 85% in El Obeyd at the Don Bosco Vocational Training Centre and 15% at the Women Promotion Centre in Nyala, South Darfur.
VIS has presented a total of 3 projects to the United Nations Work Plan for Sudan 2007.

Empowerment of
the Sudanese women.
KHARTOUM, Sudan

VIS's local country representative, Mr. Andrea Naletto, and Mr. Søren Skou Rasmussen, Counsellor (Development) of the Royal Danish Embassy, signed today the Project Agreement Document for the project «Improving the Status of Women in the Tonj County, Sudan». The project, whose main objective is "Empowerment of women through the formation and training of Self-Help Groups," will last 36 months and it will be implemented by the Don Bosco Sisters based in the town of Tonj, Warap State (Southern Sudan).