Rift Valley Institute course held in Rumbek
By Manyang Mayom
May 28, 2009 (RUMBEK) – The Rift Valley Institute’s 2009 Sudan course began Monday in Rumbek with over 50 participants of white people (Kawajat), prominent persons, Sudanese lecturers at the various universities as well various field researchers attending the course at Rumbek Senior Secondary School’s premises in the capital of Lakes state.
The course is one week long from Monday to Friday, and is designed for peacekeepers, aid workers, diplomats, researchers, campaigners, business people and journalists. This is now sixth time that RVI has held its course in Rumbek, and the institute has already held one course in the Horn of Africa this year as well, according to RVI chairman John Ryle who said that the institute is aiming to open another chapter in the greater Lakes region.
“Rift Valley institute is a non-profit research and educational organization working with communities and institutions in Eastern Africa, including Sudan and the Horn of Africa. RVI programmes connect local knowledge to global information, aiming to modify development practice. Programmes include field-based social research, support for indigenous educational institutions, in-country training courses and a digital library. RVI fellows are academic specialists and practitioners in the fields of education, conservation, media, law and human rights,” said John Ryle, RVI chairman.
According to Ryle, the in-country courses from RVI offer an intensive introduction to countries in the region, emphasizing the practical application of academic and technical knowledge to politics and development. After this sixth Sudan course, the second Horn of Africa course is scheduled for June 2009. A greater Lakes course is planned for 2010.
Douglas Johnson, a member of Abyei Boundaries Commission and historian of Sudan, gave a presentation highlighting the rise of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army (SPLM/A) and the lead-up to the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) which halted the war with the National Congress Party (NCP)-led government.
The presentation focused on how SPLA/M got their support during the war and how it got into the peace stage straight away.
Other instructors at the course are Jok Madut Jok, Suliman Baldo, Justin Willis, John Ryle, Gérard Prunier, and Cherry Leonardi.
The students of RVI visited the historic places called Pen-dit including the cultural site of Akon Buoi, town court and cattle market; Pen-dit was a place where Egyptian forces formerly stayed and indeed used as a base from which to capture people, said Johnson.
Meanwhile, a football match was organized but rain disturbed the match between the Rumbek town team and the RVI team.
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Takpiny
Rift Valley Institute course held in Rumbek
My thanks go to the RIFT VALLY INSTITUTE for choosing Lakes state capital Rumbek as good place for course.
What I am happy that lakes state is quite for some while now no casualties had been reported again such as killing, raiding and rapping as usual some time ago. Lakes state get behind of all south Sudan states in aspect of development because of insecurity created by it own people, under weak and unqualified leadership of general Daniel Awet Akot who want to role people through his own norms rather then role of law , is time for you people of lakes to sorted out your differences and be similar in view to face the development of your state which is more important then violence.
Dear Manyang I admire you, but let me correct this, the word kawaja or kawajat not even English word .Is local Arabic word used by Syrian and Lebanese nations . For them word Kawaja or kawajat means rich person and not white person as you mean might be .Is better to used their nationalities instead of word kawaja which is now mean nothing in your article .