AMS Fundraisers Support South Sudan Villages Clinic

In English class, Amherst Middle School seventh graders read the book “A Long Walk to Water” by Linda Sue Park highlighting the scarcity of clean drinking water in the African nation of South Sudan. For the second year in a row, making a connection to a nation far from WNY was made a little stronger this year through a special guest presentation and a series of fundraising activities.

The middle school hosted Fidele Dahn, who works as a bus driver for First Student and drives for Amherst Schools. Dahn is also one of The Lost Boys of Sudan, which tied into the book seventh grade was studying. Dahn was the guest speaker at a grade-level assembly where he shared some of his story that started when he was 9 years old and his community in a village of South Sudan was attacked by government troops. Amid the chaos, he was split up from his family and joined a group of frightened boys who ran from the violence. This group of boys became known as The Lost Boys. They roamed for roughly 1,000 miles, making it to Ethiopia before fleeing once again, finally reaching sanctuary in a refugee camp in Kenya. Dhan’s journey led him to refugee status in Syracuse and to college in Buffalo.

During the school assembly, he talked about why it was important for him to start a foundation and medical clinic, South Sudan Villages Clinic, in the village and surrounding region that he left as a child. He answered questions from students and the seventh grade team had a surprise donation for him to support his clinic. 

Teaching Assistant Lynette LaBoy had the idea to have seventh-graders be involved in two fundraisers during the month of December to support the South Sudan Villages Clinic.

The “Buy a Vote, Save a Life” fundraiser had staff and students donate to vote for staff members to dress up in silly holiday costumes for the middle school winter concert. Teachers Jack Kersten, a seventh-grade LTS in Social Studies and Megan Weisenburg, a seventh grade teacher, were the grand prize winners and dressed up in a tree costumer and snowman costume for the day and evening concert.

Another fundraiser had all seventh graders creating a snowflake ornament which were sold at the concerts and at school. 

At the end of assembly, Dahn was presented with a check for more than $1,623 to help support the South Sudan Villages Clinic. The funds, he said, was enough to purchase several months of medicine for the clinic. Donations can still be made and more information about Dahn and the medical clinic can be found at the South Sudan Villages Clinic website.