James "Lubo" Mijak (left) and Phillips Bragg manned the table Friday night where donors are helping build a LEGO schoolhouse and fund construction of a new school in Mr. Mijak's Sudan hometown. (Katie Scruggs photo)
Among the many people visiting town for Christmas in Davidson, James “Lubo” Mijak may be farthest from home. The Sudan native, now a U.S. citizen living in Charlotte, was one of Sudan’s “Lost Boys.” This weekend he is helping to man a booth in front of the post office where they’re building a LEGO school and raising money for a real schoolhouse in his home town of Nyarweng, south Sudan.
Each donation toward the school at the Christmas and Davidson table buys LEGO building blocks to construct a model of the school that will be built in Nyarweng.
Phillips Bragg of Davidson, who is helping to lead the effort said Saturday morning the drive has brought in $3,000 out of a hoped-for $4,500. A private donor promises to match that.
Gifts this weekend so far have included checks for $50 to $500 as well as cash donations.
Lubo Mijak teaches an outdoor class in Nyarweng.
The Davidson fund-drive is part of a campaign called “Raising Sudan,” by Charlotte nonprofit Mothering Across Continents, that eventually hopes to raise $150,000 for the structure. There’s currently no school for the village’s 340 children, so they’re forced to under the trees – when the weather is good.
Organizers were worried that bad weather Saturday might hurt their fund-raising efforts, and they were circulating emails on Saturday to drum up more support. They’ll be at the table building the LEGO schoolhouse Saturday night in front of the Davidson post office from 6-9 p.m.
MORE INFO
Read more about the Raising Sudan project and make a donation at www.motheringacrosscontinents.org
Read a July 2010 article from The Charlotte Observer about the school-building effort.
Phillips Bragg offered this update after Saturday:
“We had another great night in spite of the forecast, raising over 1000 bringing our total of pledges and dollars received to 4036. There are a handful of pledges out there that are pending so we are hopeful about the 4500 goal, so hopeful that we went ahead and finished the school. That was very fun and there was much celebration.
The best part was Lubo’s reaction to the willingness of Davidson people to stop, really listen, and give. He just kept saying “Wow” when person after person gave. And, the giving was joyful and encouraging. What a town!
The people of Nyarweng thank the people of Davidson!
Phillips M. Bragg