STANDFast Day Four!

Yesterday's Trivia Answer: The actor who visited Southern Sudan in October is George Clooney

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 3 – STANDFAST DAY 4

Thank you to everyone for supporting our STANDFast this week. Today, we want to focus on what YOU can do to support the cause of peace in Sudan. Four things:

1. Visit the STAND website – standnow.org and participate in the 12 days of STAND campaign.

2. Visit sudanactionnow.org and sign the online petition to the White House.

3. Find more information at the websites for the Enough Project and the Genocide Intervention Network, and look for videos with George Clooney and John Prendergast talking about Sudan.

4. Come to the next STAND meeting! Stay informed and stay involved!

Today’s beard contest – mustache! Today’s trivia question: What HHS alum is a member of STAND’s National Leadership Team?

The Contestants:

Anthony:


Jimmy:


Mike:


Mr. D:

STANDFast Day Three!

Yesterday's Trivia Answer: approximately 3800 of the Lost Boys came to the United States.

THURSDAY DECEMBER 2 – STANDFAST DAY 3

A.M. ANNOUNCMENT

Thank you to everyone who came to the screening of Rebuilding Hope last night, and a special thank you to Gabriel Bol Deng for taking the time to visit Harwich High School yesterday. Last night, we raised $600 to support Hope for Ariang and primary education in Southern Sudan.

We are focused this week on supporting the people of Southern Sudan as they vote for Independence on January 9. Sudan is also the country whose western region is Darfur. The dictator who controls the Sudan government in Khartoum, Omar al-Bashir, has conducted a campaign of genocide against the people of Darfur since 2003. Approximately 400,000 Darfuris have been killed and millions displaced. International attention and pressure has reduced though not totally eliminated the violence in Darfur. We hope that similar attention and pressure will convince Bashir not to react to the vote for Southern Sudan independence with repression and genocide.

Today’s beard contest – goatee. Today’s trivia question – what actor visited Southern Sudan in October to bring attention to the situation there?

Beard of the Day Contestants:

Anthony:


Ben:


Mike:


Shawn:


Spencer:


Tyler:


Mr. D:

Gabriel Bol Deng Visits Harwich High School

Harwich High School today enjoyed a visit by Gabriel Bol Deng, founder of Hope for Ariang, and one of the Lost Boys of Sudan. Gabriel started the day by being featured on WCAI's show, The Point with Mindy Todd, discussing his experiences in Sudan, coming to the United States, his efforts to build a school in his home village of Ariang, and the upcoming referendum on independence in Southern Sudan. Following the show, he came to visit the school. After having lunch in the school cafeteria, he visited a government class, discussing the history and politics of Sudan. Then last period, he talked to a school-wide assembly about how to "Move a Mountain" - his motivational presentation based on his experiences as a refugee from the War in Southern Sudan (see below). Finally, in the evening, we hosted a screening and discussion of the award-winning documentary, Rebuilding Hope, which follows Gabriel and two other Lost Boys as they return to Sudan to look for their families and to begin to do humanitarian work in their home villages. HHS STAND would like to thank Gabriel for coming to Harwich High School and to Hope for Ariang Board Member Cynthia Davis for bringing him to the Cape. All of the proceeds of all of our STANDFast events this week will go to benefit Hope for Ariang to support education in Southern Sudan.

His presentation at the school assembly:

Part One:


Part Two:


Part Three: (Video about Ariang School)


Part Four:

STANDFast Day Two!

Yesterday's Trivia Answer: the Capital of Southern Sudan is Juba.

Beard of the Day winner was Tyler.

WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 1 – STANDFAST DAY 2

MORNING ANNOUNCEMENT

As a large conglomeration of tribes created by the British Empire, Sudan has been at war with itself almost constantly since it gained independence in 1956. The first war between Northern and Southern Sudan lasted from 1956 to 1972 and is estimated to have killed 500,000 people. The war began again in 1983, and was intensified in the 1990’s under the dictatorship of Omar al-Bashir. This second war featured genocidal tactics where villages were attacked and all residents who didn’t escape were slaughtered. The Lost Boys of Sudan were boys who banded together in the wilderness after their villages were annihilated and who walked hundreds of miles to Ethiopia and Kenya, many of their friends dying along the way. Many of the Lost Boys emigrated as refugees to the United States and other nations. Eventually, a Comprehensive Peace Agreement ended the second war in 2005, leading to the referendum on independence on January 9.

Today, one of the Lost Boys, Gabriel Bol Deng, is visiting our school. He will be in some classes after lunch, and last period, we will have a partial screening of his film, Rebuilding Hope, and a discussion with him in the auditorium. Tonight at 7, we will host a full screening and discussion of the film.

Today’s beard contest – freestyle. Today’s Trivia Question – how many of the Lost Boys came to the United States?

Beard Contest of the Day - Freestyle - The Contestants:

Tom:


Sam:


Joel:


Zach:


Mr. D: