The Southern Sudanese Community of Washington (SSCW) is a community-based organization that exists to help the young men, women, and their families resettled from the Sudan successfully transition from their country into the U.S. and local communities in the state of Washington. The ultimate goal of the organization is to foster a sense of community for its members and help this displaced population achieve self-sufficiency here in Washington.

Description:
The Southern Sudanese Community of Washington is a non-profit organization whose services include the following...

Education:
-The tutoring program. Primarily a K-12 after-school program for students in a number of locations throughout greater Seattle.
-Summer program. Educational and recreational opportunities for youth during the summer months.
-ESL & Adult Education. Provides or refers community members to English language development, adult education, job development & training opportunities.

Family Support:
-Refugee Mentorship. Offers one-on-one assistance in dealing with every day needs, advocacy and assistance in accessing resources and services.
-Cultural Affirmation. Help in dealing with different cultural expectations while preserving family values & culture.
-Life Skills Training. Workshops and training opportunities for individuals and families to develop essential life skills for self-sufficiency, increased understanding and knowledge about community support networks for refugees and immigrants.
-Translation Assistance. Interpreters for medical, legal or other critical services, family support, and advising.

History:
The Southern Sudanese Community of Washington was incorporated as a nonprofit organization in November, 2003. We received a tax exemption from the IRS in September 2004, making us a 501(c)3 corporation. We have both bylaws and an operating plan. We are currently in the process of applying for grants to help the organization get underway.

Machot Lat, who is the founder and president of SSCW, was born in 1981 in southern Sudan. In 1989, his village was attacked and destroyed by government troops. His father was killed, and Machot fled, losing contact with the rest of his family. At the age of eight he had become one of the Lost Boys of Sudan, a group of young orphaned refugees forced from their villages by war to trek hundreds of miles through African wilderness. Thousands died along the way. They drowned, were eaten by wild animals, shot by military forces or overcome by hunger, dehydration or fatigue. Thousands of others survived the unimaginable conditions against all odds. Machot was one of the survivors. He spent time in refugee camps in Ethiopia and Kenya before coming here as a refugee. Now he is living here in the Seattle area. In 2000, he was able to locate his family. He is now a student struggling to get an education and to build a promising future, and at the same time takes care of his family. His family includes a nine-year-old nephew and an eleven-year old niece who live with him, and seven other members, including his mother, who are refugees in Kenya. He also looks out for two brothers and another nephew who are in foster care in the Seattle area. Machot's story is typical of the other members of the Southern Sudanese Community of Washington. Do you think that you can volunteer your time and talents to helping them become self-sufficient and find a better life here in America?

Contact people:

Merri Ann Osborne, Program Manager, (phone), (email) Cara Anderson-Ahrens, Education Director, (phone), (email) Machot Lat, Founder And President, (phone), (email)

Address:

510 2nd Ave W Seattle, WA 98119 This location is handicap accessible (See a map)

Web Site: http://www.sscw.org

Directions:

SSCW's office is located on 2nd Avenue W & Republican -3 blocks west of Key Arena at the Seattle Center.   Nearest Bus Stop: Queen Anne & Mercer, 1st Ave N & Republican, 2 minute walk

Miscellaneous Information

Liability
	Yes
Does your organization welcome court-ordered community service volunteers?
	No
Does your organization have volunteer positions for youth 12-18?
	Yes