Fred Taban

Everyone who met Fred Taban during his recent week-long stay in Broad Chalke found him to be a charming man and a very eloquent speaker.
When I met him on New Year’s Eve he told me something about his early life and his work in South Sudan.
He was born in 1966 in a refugee camp in Uganda, where his family had fled during the first Sudanese civil war together with millions of other Sudanese. He recounts that on the day he was born his mother, together with the rest of his family, was just arriving at the camp in dreadful rainy weather. His mother was collapsing under the strain and the ensuing baby was named ‘Taban’ which means ‘suffering’ in their language. Young Fred then went on to spend three quarters of his life in a refugee camp. In his schooling (1970 to 1983) he reached the equivalent of O’Level standard.
Fred returned to his native South Sudan were he trained with ERAP (Equatoria Agriculture Program) and worked as an Agriculture Extension Officer. Between 1998 and 2000 Fred attended Bishop Alison Theological College. After the three years of training he was ordained as a minister in 2001 and became a chaplain and the Bishop’s Diocese Development Co-ordinator. His current post is that of Academic Dean overseeing training in the College. He frequently preaches in the cathedral.
Fred is married to Peres Pita and they have 6 children, the oldest 18 and the youngest 4 years old. He also cares for 3 orphans and pays for their schooling as well. Four of his children are currently being sponsored by CRESS this has been a huge support to him as all schools in Uganda and South Sudan charge fees. A motorbike accident in 2010 changed his life and caused him to nearly lose a foot. An Italian doctor at the Missionary Hospital in Kampala refused to amputate his foot, despite the fact that his ankle was severely damaged and had started to die because it was 35 days after the accident before he was operated on. This was due to him not being able to contact anyone and it was only when he contacted his Bishop Anthony Poggo – who then asked three donors one being CRESS if they could help with the cost of his operation that any action took place. One leg is now longer than the other and he walks with a limp and is in constant pain but is only grateful that his wife, who was on the back of the bike, escaped unhurt and he himself did not sustain any head injuries.
Fred is currently studying for a BA in Theology and Independent Studies at All Nations Christian College in Hertfordshire, supported by a full bursary. The course, which involves Bible and intercultural studies, is two years long. It is hoped that he might be able to return home during the 3 months summer vacation if enough funds can be found to pay for his travel.
With his easy-going nature he seems to have adapted well to life in England, which could not be more different from life at home. His main problem is sleep as in South Sudan life is sun-centred – you rise with the sun-rise and go to bed when the sun sets. I am sure that everyone who met Fred during his visit here wish him well and hope that his time in England is both enjoyable and rewarding.
Di Jeans

• 1966 Born in Adjumanji refugee camp in Northern Uganda
• 1970-1983 Selected for schooling in the refugee camp because bright – taught English by an English missionary – reached O level standard in his schooling – no further
• 1984 Returns back to his ancestral home in Liwolo South Sudan during civil war- trained with Equatoria Agricultural Programme and worked as an Agricultural Extension officer
• 1998 -2000 Attends Bishop Alison Theological College in Arua Uganda
• 2001 Ordained
• 2011 Accident – ankle broken 35 days before operated on .
• 2012 One and half years in hospital
• 2013 CRESS starts to sponsor 3 children
• 2014 Starts 2 year MA at All Nations College Hertfordshire

We are looking for funds for him to fly back in his 3 month summer holidays and also to support his wife in Uganda Refugee camp feeding 9 children