Concordia College

One Book at a Time: Building a Library in Southern Sudan

Nov 07, 2009

Saturday, Nov 7
10am
Concordia College
Centrum, Knutson Campus Center

Register online
or by phone at 218.299.3734
by Oct. 30, 2009

Literacy rates in Southern Sudan hover around 1 percent, but that hasn't stopped one nonprofit organization from using books to improve life in a community devastated by lack of education, poverty and violence.

Dr. Joan Kopperud '75, who serves on the board of directors for PACODES, will share the inspiring story of how volunteers and passion are building a library in Southern Sudan - one book at a time.  She is also a professor and chair of Concordia's English department. PACODES, Panyijiar Community Development Services, was founded by several Lost Boys of Sudan who now live in the United States. These boys, including Machien Justin Luoi '06, survived the Sudanese Civil War (1984-2005) by making a perilous journey to relief camps in Ethiopia and Kenya. They escaped a murderous government while battling disease and starvation en route.

PACODES is devoted to improving education, health, clean water, agriculture and lifestyle in Panyijiar, a county in Southern Sudan.

Alumni Relations
alumni@cord.edu
800-699-9020