History of CRESS UK
CRESS was founded in 2011 by Caroline Lamb, following her visit to Kajo Keji in 2009 with the Flame International charity. This visit left Caroline very moved by the plight of the people, lack of education and health provision and poor infrastructure.
During this first visit she was privileged to meet some influential people in South Sudan and was inspired by Bishop Anthony Poggo, the charismatic and energetic Bishop of Kajo Keji. Bishop Anthony became an early influential and committed supporter in the region and was key to the growth of CRESS UK in its early years. He now works in London as an Anglican Adviser to the Archbishop of Canterbury.
Upon returning home Caroline shared her vision with her local community of the Chalke Valley, Wiltshire, where she lives and started fundraising in earnest to help the people she had met. This community continues to support CRESS and the South Sudanese refugees who are now living in rural northern Uganda.
The Challenges
CRESS concentrated its work on the South Sudanese community of the Diocese of Kajo Keji; the South Sudanese Anglican Church was virtually the only structured and functioning organisation in the country. A significant partnership agreed in 2014 between CRESS and St James’ Church in Devizes, Wiltshire further strengthened the Anglican links between the Dioceses of Kajo Keji and those in South Wiltshire.
Several main challenges presented themselves to the development of self-support within this community:
Civil War
However, in 2013 a civil war broke out in South Sudan. Initially, this did not affect the Diocese of Kajo Keji in the south of the country, but during 2017 it reached their area and virtually the whole local population fled over the nearby border into Northern Uganda and were dispersed into refugee and displaced persons camps. The work of CRESS came to an abrupt end within South Sudan and had to be re-established afresh in Northern Uganda in very different circumstances. Some facilities and programmes were saved:
Education - All the CRESS sponsored education was already based in northern Uganda and continued unaffected.
Medical Support - The entire medical stock, equipment and even roof solar panels were spirited into Northern Uganda and became the basis of a new clinic established in Mijale with professional local staff.
Church - The Diocese of Kajo Keije was split to create a new Diocese of Liwolo with the Rev. Joseph Aba elevated to its bishop and based in Arua. They became our Delivery Partners.
CRESS Governance - CRESS has established a revised, legal charity governance structure with our Delivery Partners responsible in-country for the implementation and delivery of agreed CRESS projects.
2017-2023
CRESS was fully active again in Northern Uganda with clear business plans and procedures. The Vision of enabling community self-sufficiency remains intact. The emphasis for CRESS still on long-term development based on continuing personal contact.
To this end CRESS funded
- A primary health care clinic in Mijale with midwife, ultrasound and diagnostic services.
- 13 Children’s Accelerated Trauma Therapy Counsellors trained who helped de-traumatise over 500 children each year.
- Clinic outreach services including
- Health training and malaria prevention
- RUMPS (Reusable Menstrual PadS) training for girls and young women
- Field midwife antenatal services with Mama Kits and mosquito net training
- Eye screening and surgery
- Dentistry
- Training and support for 76 Savings groups who were supported by 13 Community Business Facilitators
- Training and essential inputs for 48 of the 76 Savings groups to become Agriculture Groups and manage their own gardens with produce valuing of over £200K.
- 7,000+ mostly fruit trees planted with training on how to look after and get the most from them. Good for the farmers and the environment.
- Education support for over 80 students including resources and tuition during COVID lockdowns.
- Installation of 5 Loud Speaker Systems, like local radio stations.
- Supporting the Diocese of Liwolo infrastructure and funding their training, materials and outreach.
The Future
As of November 2023 CRESS, reacting to the development in Uganda and South Sudan decided to change it's longer name to CRESS (Christian Relief Education Skills and Sustainability) as this fits the location and the settling population we serve.
If you would like to help us to continue supporting the South Sudanese refugees and local Ugandans, please get in touch with us or make a donation.