In their first meeting of 2018, the Africa Sunrise Communities (ASC) Board of Directors welcomed new members and approved conceptual plans for a new school in Bor, South Sudan. The school will be built on land recently acquired by ASC on the “Airport Road” in Bor.  ASC announced their land acquisition on this page in April of this year, here. At their meeting on May 19th, the Board:

• approved naming the school the Akechkuai Living Hope School, after a hero of the South Sudanese independence movement
• approved naming the first building of the complex “The Kent and Joy Kroehler Building,” in honor of one of Jacob Guot’s mentors and friends.  A capital fundraising campaign was also approved and those wishing to honor Kent and Joy with a donation designated for this building fund can do so here or contact us for further information here.
• reviewed an architect’s conceptual plan for developing the land and building the first school building
• approved a trip by Executive Director Jacob Guot to Bor in June or July of this year, to interview contractors and make arrangements for a ground-breaking later this year

In other business, the Board welcomed new members and elected officers.  The current Board consists of:

• Kent E. Kroehler, M.Div., President; Lancaster, PA; Pastor, United Methodist Church, retired
• Gabriel Kwai Akech Kwai, MBA, Vice-President; Louisville, KY; Senior Personal Banker, Fifth-Third Bank
• John Doyle, M.Div., Treasurer; Lexington, KY; Owner, Doyle Enterprises; Pastor, United Methodist Church, retired
• Andrew Eberhart, M.Div.; Nicholasville, KY; Pastor, United Methodist Church; Co-Founder, Drinklings Coffee Roasters
• April J. Eberhart; Nicholasville, KY; Owner, The Kindred Creative, Website Design
• Judy Metcalf; Wilmore, KY; Past Councilperson, Wilmore City Council; Past Member, Jessamine County Planning & Zoning Commission
• Walter E. Pond, Ph.D.; Harrodsburg, KY; Author/Writer; Part-Time Teller, PNC Bank

Executive Director Jacob Guot was made an ex officio member of the board, in anticipation of his moving to paid staff status later this year.At the close of the meeting, Kent Kroehler remarked upon “how honored and humbled my wife and I are to be recognized by ASC by naming a building for us. Our friendship with Jacob Guot is truly a remarkable friendship and we are excited to continue our journey with him and the people of South Sudan.”Board Vice-President and ‘Lost Boy’ Gabriel Kwai also noted that the naming of the school project for Akechkuai is significant for the community.  He explained that Akechkuai was one of the first men in South Sudan to receive a school education and fought tirelessly for the independence of this young country, although he did not live to see Independence Day in 2011.  “He is an inspiration to the youth of our country,” Gabriel said, “and naming our school for him will be an inspiration to the students who study there.”Updates on the school project and other Africa Sunrise projects will appear here regularly.  To support our work with a financial contribution, go here.  To get involved in other ways, contact us here._________________________________________________________Follow us on Facebook and Twitter (@africa_sunrise).