OVERVIEW
Sudanese Help Organization ( SHO): Bridging the Cultural and Generational Gap
The Sudanese Help Organization will offer locally based cultural programs designed to reconnect school-aged children and youth with their families. The Sudanese Community in the United States both newly arrived immigrants and long settled families has struggled for years with cultural disconnection and generational gaps. Like many other immigrant communities, Sudanese parents often lack basic English language skills, which creates significant barriers to integration into American society, where English is essential in schools, workplaces, hospitals, and public services offices. Meanwhile, their children are growing up in American schools and adopting a new culture without proper guidance from their parents. At home they face a communication barrier. Parents speak Sudanese languages their children don’t fully understand, while the children speak English, which their parents cannot follow. This has led to a breakdown in family cohesion and communication, both in Minnesota and other states with Sudanese populations.
The language barrier results in a situation where two cultures live under one roof without a shared understanding. Children often struggle academically because they cannot receive homework help from their parents. Worse still, a lack of cultural and generational guidance has left many youth confused and vulnerable. Since the early 2000s, many young Sudanese adults have dropped out of school, turned to substance abuse, or become entangled in street violence-some even losing their lives. SHO was founded to address these long-standing issues by creating a supportive and culturally responsive environment for Sudanese children and youth.
GOALS
- Reconnect youth with their families through shared cultural learning
- Promote mutual understanding and communication at home
- Provide mentorship and positive route models for the next generation
- Empower youth to become responsible, informed citizens.
By grounding our youth in both their heritage and the values needed to thrive in American society, SHO strives to build a stronger, healthier community for generations to come.
SPECIFICATIONS
The program will specifically host social activities for youth to foster community engagement and positive peer interaction. It will also provide targeted substance and alcohol abuse awareness training to educate and protect young people. In addition, Nuer language classes will be offered to school-aged children and youth, supporting cultural preservation, family connections, and language development. Homework assistance will be integrated to support academic success. The program will further include job training and college awareness sessions to prepare youth for higher education and future employment opportunities.
MILESTONES
Challenges Faced by the Sudanese Help Organization in Minnesota
The Sudanese Help Organization (SHO) has faced several key challenges in its mission to support underserved communities in Minnesota, particularly in Mankato. Among the most significant barriers are language differences and varying religious beliefs, which have limited the Minnesota Council of Churches’ ability to fully engage with and serve the Sudanese community.
Despite being officially recognized as a charitable organization, financial constraints have stalled the launch of critical community programs—some for nearly a year. These delays have especially impacted initiatives aimed at supporting children and youth, such as After School programs.
We are actively seeking partnerships with organizations and individuals willing to support our mission. In particular, we are looking to collaborate with those who can assist us in acquiring grants and expanding our fundraising efforts. SHO’s budget for this project is $10,000 minimum for programs expense to $60,000 a year budget, whatever amount contributed to this project can be highly appreciated.
Your support can make a lasting difference. Contributions to SHO are tax-deductible under IRC Section 170. Please consider helping us strengthen families, empower youth, and build a more inclusive and resilient community.