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>>> HELLO AND WELCOME TO "PRAIRIE PULSE".
COMING UP LATER ON PRAIRIE PULSE, WE'LL SEE ANOTHER MUSIC
VIDEO FROM ELISA KORENNE, BUT FIRST OUR GUEST IS THE PRESIDENT
OF AFRICAN SOUL, AMERICAN HEART, DEB DAWSON OF FARGO.
THAFERNG FOR JOINING US.
>> THANK YOU.
>> TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF.
>> I'M BORN AND RAISED IN FARGO.
FLY GRANDPARENTS CAME HERE IN THE MATERIAL 1800s, MY
GRANDFATHER WAS MAYOR OF FARGO IN THE '40s, SO I HAVE A LONG HISTORY IN THIS AREA.
>> HOW DID YOU GET INVOLVED IN WITH ISSUES IN THE SOUTH SUDAN?
>> IN 2007, I MET ONE OF THE LOST BOYS OF SUDAN, WHO WAS
SETTLED HERE THROUGH THE LOST BOY RESETTLEMENT PROGRAM.
SORT OF IRONICALLY, THEY SETTLED A BUNCH OF YOUNG MEN FROM THIS
VERY HOT PART OF THE WORLD TO THIS VERY COLD PART OF THE WORLD
AND THEY HAD TO ADJUST TO ALL THE CHANGES THAT ENTAIL LIVING IN A PLACE LIKE THIS.
>> WELL, WE MAY FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THAT AS YOU TELL US YOUR STORY.
LET'S TALK ABOUT AFRICAN SOUL, AMERICAN HEART, BECAUSE
OBVIOUSLY IT SEEMS LIKE IT WOULD BE AN ENORMOUS UNDERTAKING FOR
YOU STARTING THIS, SO TELL US ABOUT THE PROGRAM AND WHAT IS IT FOR?
>> WE'RE A BOARDING SCHOOL TO ORPHAN GIRLS AND WE'RE LOCATED
IN THE LARGEST SATE IN SOUTH SUDAN IN JONGLEI STATE IN A
COUNTY CALLED DUK COUNTY, IN A TOWN CALLED DUK PAYUEL.
WHEN WE STARTED THIS PROGRAM AND I FIRST MET THE LOST BOY I WAS
WORKING WITH, HE TOLD ME HE WANTED TO HELP ORPHANS IN THE
VILLAGE HE ESCAPED IN 1987 AND HE THOUGHT IF HE COULD MAKE A
MOVIE AND TELL PEOPLE ABOUT IT, THAT AMERICAN PEOPLE WOULD HELP.
AND SO I TRAVELED BACK THERE WITH HIM IN 2007, WITH TWO OTHER
PEOPLE, A CAMERAMAN AND KEVIN BROOKS, ALSO OUR VICE PRESIDENT
OF OUR BOARD, AND WE MADE A DOCUMENTARY CALLED AFRICAN SOUL,
AMERICAN HEART, BUT WE CAME BACK AND IT'S LIKE WE HAVE A
DOCUMENTARY, WHO'S GOING TO HELP THE KIDS.
SO WE STARTED IN 2008 SUPPORTING SOME OF THE KIDS WE HAD MET AT
THE REFUGE CAMP, SUDANESE ORPHANS WHO TRAVELED THERE
DURING THE WAR AND HAD NO PLACE TO RETURN WHEN THE PEACE
AGREEMENT WAS SIGNED IN -- WELL, ACTUALLY BEFORE THE PEACE
AGREEMENT WAS SIGN, THEY HAD NO PLACE TO RETURN AFTER THE WAR AND NO PARENTS.
SO WE PUT 13 KIDS THROUGH BOARDING SCHOOL IN KENYA AND WE
STILL HAVE EIGHT KIDS IN THAT PROGRAM.
>> NOW, HOW IS THIS FUNDED?
>> WE HAVE BEEN -- A LOT OF LOCAL PEOPLE IN FARGO-MOORHEAD
AREA, THROUGHOUT NORTH DAKOTA AND ACROSS THE UNITED STATES,
HAVE BEEN VERY GENEROUS WITH US, SO WE'VE RAISED ALL THE FUNDS INDEPENDENTLY.
WE HAVE A 501(C)(3), NON-PROFIT CORPORATION.
>> WITHOUT EDUCATION, WHAT HAPPENS TO YOUNG GIRLS IN SOUTH SUDAN?
>> THEY'RE MARRIED OFF AT PUBERTY.
THEIR VALUE TO THEIR FAMILY IS AT THAT POINT BECAUSE THERE'S
SUCH EXTREME POVERTY EVERYWHERE, THE CATTLE THAT THEY BRING INTO
THE HOUSEHOLD, AND SO YOUNG GIRLS THAT ARE TYPICALLY NOT NO
SCHOOL BECAUSE THERE'S NO REAL HISTORY OF EDUCATING GIRLS,
THERE IS NOT OPPOSITION TO EDUCATING GIRLS THERE, BUT
THERE'S NO HISTORY OF IT, AND SO AT PUBERTY, THEY'RE MARRIED OFF
AND THE CATTLE EXCHANGES HANDS AND THEN THEY START BEARING
CHILDREN AT A VERY YOUNG AGE.
>> CAN YOU TELL ME, I UNDERSTAND YOU HAVE VARIOUS PHASES YOU'VE
KIND OF CREATED THERE.
>> WELL, IT'S NOT INTENTIONAL, BUT YOU ASK HOW YOU GET STARTED
AND, YOU KNOW, TO EMBARK ON BUILDING A BOARDING SCHOOL IN A
PLACE THAT THE ENTIRE COUNTRY HAS ONLY 100 MILES OF PAVED
ROAD, YOU KNOW, IS FAIRLY LARGE CHALLENGE, SO I STARTED GOING
BACK ON MY OWN IN 2010.
JOSEPH, THE LOST BOY WE WERE WORKING WITH, WENT TO WORK FOR
THE GOVERNMENT THERE, AND SO I WENT BACK IN 2010 AND MET WITH
LOCAL CHIEFS AND CHURCH LEADERS AND SO ON TO SEE DID THEY STILL WANT A SCHOOL.
WE PARTICULARLY WANTED TO WORK WITH ORPHANED GIRLS BECAUSE
THEY'RE THE LEAST LIKELY OF ALL GIRLS TO GO TO SCHOOL, AND WE
FELT THAT IF WE COULD BUILD A SCHOOL AND EDUCATE 50 GIRLS, A
BOARDING SCHOOL SO THAT THEY WOULDN'T BE -- THEY WOULD HAVE
THE TIME TO STUDY AND LEARN THE SUBJECT MATTER, THAT WE COULD SUCCEED AT THAT.
SO WE STARTED IN 2011 WITH AN AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAM FOR 11
ORPHANED GIRLS.
IN MARCH OF 2012, WE OPENED THE FIRST PHASE OF OUR BOARDING SCHOOL WITH 13 GIRLS.
AND BY JUNE OF LAST -- OR BY MAY OF LAST YEAR, WE HAD 34 GIRLS
FROM SIX VILLAGES IN THE COUNTY.
>> NOW, WE TALKED ABOUT THE FUNDING, BUT AGAIN, HOW MANY
PEOPLE ARE INVOLVED WITH THIS TO MAKE IT HAPPEN?
>> WE'VE GOT SEVEN PEOPLE ON OUR BOARD.
WE HAVE PEOPLE -- WE DO SOME EVENTS.
WE HAVE A GET YOUR *** IN A BUNCH LUNCH.
WE ASKED PEOPLE TO COME AND LEARN ABOUT THE SITUATION FOR
GIRLS ALL ACROSS SOUTH SUDAN, WHICH IS THAT THEY QUIT SCHOOL
AT PUBERTY OFTENTIMES BECAUSE THEY HAVE NO UNDERWEAR AND NO SANITARY PADS.
SO WOMEN FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY SEW SANITARY NAPKINS THAT ARE
WASHABLE THAT CAN BE REUSED AND WE BRING THOSE AND UNDERWEAR
SUPPLIES AND DRIBT THEM.
NOW -- DISTRIBUTE THEM.
NOW, PART OF OUR PROGRAM, OUR OLDER GIRLS TRAVEL WITH OUR MAY
TRON AND OUR PRINCIPAL TO THREE VILLAGES AND DISTRIBUTE THOSE
PRODUCTS TO GIRLS IN SCHOOLS.
>> AS WE RECORD THIS, OBVIOUSLY PROBABLY A FEW WEEKS BEFORE
WE'RE GOING TO AIR, WHAT'S THE CURRENT -- THE SITUATION LIKE IN SOUTH SUDAN?
>> WELL, HERE WE ARE IN EARLY JANUARY AND MID DECEMBER, THERE
WAS A -- PERHAPS A COUP ATTEMPT ON THE GOVERNMENT BY, YOU KNOW,
A RIVAL LEADER, OUSTED VICE PRESIDENT, AND SINCE THEN, THERE
HAS BEEN FIGHTING IN A FEW AREAS IN SOUTH SUDAN.
THE CAPITAL CITY, WHICH IS BACK IN SCROLL OF THE GOVERNMENT, AND
BOOR, THE CAPITAL OF THE STATE WHERE WE'RE LOCATED.
BOOR IS ABOUT 100 MILES SOUTH OF OUR PROGRAM.
AND MUCH OF THAT CITY HAS BEEN DESTROYED, SO AS WE'RE SPEAKING
NOW, THE LEADERS ARE IN TALKS IN ETHIOPIA, THE INTERNATIONAL
COMMUNITY TRYING TO DO WHAT IT CAN TO HELP THE COUNTRY RESTORE
ORDER, BUT THERE IS SOME FIGHTING GOING ON IN A FEW AREAS.
OUR PARTICULAR AREA HAS BEEN PROTECTED.
IT'S SAFE.
WE HAVE A LOT OF GOOD WILL THERE THROUGH OUR PROGRAM AND ALSO
THROUGH THE JOHN DOW FOUNDATION LOST BOYS CLINIC WHICH
PROPRIETORSHIP CARE FOR PEOPLE IN 100 -- PROVIDES CARE FOR
PEOPLE WHEN A 100-MILE RADIUS OF ANY ETHIC GROUP.
>> BUT UNFORTUNATELY, CIVIL WAR WOULD BE ON THE HORIZON.
>> YEAH, PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT THAT.
I'M HOPEFUL THAT ENOUGH HAS HAPPENED IN THE COUNTRY THUS FAR
SINCE THE PEACE AGREEMENT WAS SIGNED IN 2005 THAT THEY WON'T
ALLOW IT TO GET TO THAT POINT, BUT, OF COURSE, MY NEXT TRIP IS
SCHEDULED FOR FEBRUARY AND RIGHT NOW, THAT'S ON HOLD BECAUSE IT'S
NOT -- THERE'S A U.S. TRAVEL WARNING AGAINST GOING TO SOUTH SUDAN.
SO I HAVE ANOTHER TRUP SCHEDULED FOR APRIL -- TRIP SCHEDULED FOR
APRIL, SO I'M HOPEFUL I'LL BE THERE IN APRIL.
>> HOW HAS THIS MISSION AND PROGRAM AFFECTED YOU AND YOUR LIFE?
>> IT'S TRANSFORMED MY LIFE IN EVERY POSSIBLE WAY.
IT PRETTY MUCH WHAT I THINK ABOUT WHEN I GET UP IN THE
MORNING AND GO TO BED AT NIGHT BECAUSE IT'S TREMENDOUS
RESPONSIBILITY TO TAKE SOMETHING LIKE THIS ON AND THEN TO KNOW
THAT IT'S -- NOT THAT I DON'T HAVE TREMENDOUS HELP, BUT
PRIMARILY IT'S -- YOU KNOW, I'M LEADING THIS EFFORT AND SO I
WANT TO SEE 50 GIRLS GET ALL THE WAY THROUGH SCHOOL.
SO OUR PROGRAM IS PRIMARY SCHOOL.
WE INTEND TO SEND OUR GIRLS TO SECONDARY SCHOL -- PRIMARY
SCHOOL IS THROUGH 8th GRADE HERE, SO TO SECONDARY SCHOOL AND
BEYOND, TO COLLEGE OR TRADE SCHOOL, SO THAT THEY WILL HAVE
REAL SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE THAT THEY CAN BRING BACK TO HELP
TRANSFORM THEIR CONTRI AND CHANGE THE LIVES -- COUNTRY AND
CHANGE THE LIVES OF THEIR FAMILIES THEMSELVES AND THEIR COMMUNITIES.
>> DEB, I UNDERSTAND YOU BROUGHT A VIDEO CLIP FOR US TO LOOK AT.
>> YEAH, THAT WILL GIVE PEOPLE A BETTER IDEA OF WHAT IT IS WE HAVE.
>> LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT THAT RIGHT NOW.
>> SHOULD I START THAT OVER?
THERE'S SOME NOISY BIRDS.
[ SINGING ]
>> JUNE 2013 AND I'M BACK HERE FOR MY SECOND SOMETIME THIS YEAR VISITING ASA.
THERE'S BEEN TREMENDOUS CHANGE
SINCE MY LAST VISIT HERE.
[ SINGING ]
>> WHAT'S YOUR NAME?
[ SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE ]
>> WE BEGAN ONLY WITH GIRLS IN THE LOCAL COMMUNITY, BUT BECAUSE
WE WANT THE PROGRAM, WHICH SERVES ORPHAN GIRLS WITH AN IDEA
OF PROTECTING THEM FROM FORCED MARRIAGES, EDUCATING THEM IN
SCHOOL SUBJECTS AND PRACTICAL LIFE SKILLS, AND EMPOWERING THEM
TO BE LEADERS AND GIVE BACK TO THEIR COMMUNITIES, WE DON'T WANT
THIS ONLY TO IMPACT THIS COMMUNITY.
WE WANT IT TO IMPACT THE ENTIRE COUNTY.
SO WE NOW HAVE, OF OUR 34
STUDENTS, WE HAVE GIRLS FROM SIX
VILLAGES IN THIS COUNTY.
WE FINISHED THE DORMITORY THAT WAS UNDER CONSTRUCTION WHEN I WAS HERE IN FEBRUARY.
WE HAVE BUILT AN ADDITIONAL CONCRETE BLOCK DORMITORY.
EACH OF THE NEW DORMITORIES HAVE FOUR SETS OF BUNK BEDS.
THEY CALL THEM DOUBLE-DECKERS HERE, AND SO WE CAN ACCOMMODATE
EIGHT GIRLS IN EACH OF THOSE DORMITORIES.
>> THAT IS GOOD.
>> ONE OF THE CHALLENGES ON ALL OF MY VISITS HERE IS THE
INABILITY TO SPEAK TO THE GIRLS BECAUSE, THOUGH SOME OF THEM
COULD READ IN ENGLISH OR WRITE IN ENGLISH, THEY HAD LITTLE
CONVERSATIONAL PRACTICE AND ALSO NO CONFIDENCE TO BE ABLE TO SPEAK ENGLISH.
AND ON THIS VISIT FOR THE FIRST TIME, WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO
OBSERVE THEM SITTING AND CHATTING WITH EACH OTHER IN ENGLISH, TRYING TO KIND OF
ONE-UP EACH OTHER IN TERMS OF WHAT THEY CAN SAY.
>> I WANT TO PRACTICE MY ENGLISH TO BECOME A GOOD ENGLISH.
THAT IS WHY I STUDY.
[ LAUGHTER ]
>> WHY DON'T YOU SAY YOUR BROKEN ENGLISH?
>> BECAUSE -- BECAUSE PEOPLE -- >> NO, NOT YOU.
BECAUSE YOU ARE GOOD WITH
ENGLISH.
[ CHATTERING ]
>> SO WE'RE HAVING SORT OF LITTLE INTERCHANGES OF ENGLISH
CONVERSATION AND MANY OF THE GIRLS ARE COMFORTABLE DOING THAT
NOW, SO THAT'S BEEN A TREMENDOUS PLEASURE.
>> WHY IS IT GOOD TO BE IN THE ASA SCHOOL?
>> IT IS NICE, SO GOOD, BECAUSE THEY ARE EDUCATED AND WE KNOW WHAT WE ARE DOING.
WE ARE NOT -- >> WHAT I LIKE TO BE IN ASA SCHOOL, I LIKE TO BE EDUCATED.
>> AND WHY DO YOU LIKE TO BE EDUCATED?
>> I WANT TO GET MY -- MY FATHER CANNOT FORCE ME TO BE MARRIED.
>> DEB, I KNOW, AS WE COME OUT OF THE CLIP, YOU'RE TRYING TO
TEACH THEM ENGLISH AS WE SEE THERE.
WHY IS THAT IMPORTANT?
>> WELL, ENGLISH IS THE NATIONAL LANGUAGE.
SOUTH SUDAN IS A FORMER BRITISH COLONY, AND SO ENGLISH WAS
SPOKEN BY THE BRITISH WHEN THEY FIRST CAME THERE.
WHEN THE SOUTH SEPARATED FROM THE NORTH, WHEN THEY BECAME THE
WORLD'S NEWEST NATION IN 2011, THE NORTH HAD BEEN TRYING TO
IMPOSE ARABIC UPON THE SOUTH AND SHRIA LAW AND THE SOUTH OBJECTED TO THAT.
IT'S PRIMARILY A CHRISTIAN COUNTRY.
SOME TRIBES STILL FOLLOW ANIMALISTIC ANCIENT RELIGIONS,
BUT ENGLISH IS WHAT IS TAUGHT IN SCHOOL.
THERE'S MANY DIFFERENT TYPE OF LANGUAGES SPOKEN IN THE COUNTRY,
SO ENGLISH GIVES THEM A COMMON LANGUAGE FOR COMMERCE AND
TALKING WITH OTHER PEOPLE.
>> THE PROGRAM AS WE LOOK AT IT IS REALLY RELATIVELY YOUNG, I
GUESS, AS PROGRAMS GO.
BUT ONCE THE YOUNG LADIES ARE INDICATED, WHAT IS THEIR FUTURE LIKE?
>> IT'S HARD TO SAY BECAUSE THIS IS THE WORLD'S NEWEST NATION AND
BECAUSE IN OUR VILLAGE, FOR EXAMPLE, EXCEPT FOR OUR MATRON
WHO IS EDUCATED AND SOME MIDWIVES ARE STAFFED AT WORK AT
THE CLINIC, THEY'RE THE ONLY GIRLS IN THE -- THEY ARE THE
ONLY LITTER RAT PEOPLE IN THE VILLAGE OF GIRLS, OF WOMEN, SO
THERE'S BEEN NOT AN OBJECTION TO EDUCATING WOMEN, BUT THERE'S NO
HISTORY OF EDUCATING WOMEN.
SO THERE'S BEEN ALSO PEOPLE HAVE LIVED TRADITIONAL TRIBAL LIVES
WHERE THEY KEEP CATTLE, THEY RAISE FAMILIES, THEY GROW SOME
AGRICULTURE AND SO ON, BUT SOUTH SUDAN HAS NOW BEEN EXPOSED TO,
FIRST OF ALL, THE VULNERABILITY OF NOT HAVING EDUCATION AND NOT
KNOWING HOW TO TAKE CARE OF PROBLEMS, NOT HAVING ACCESS TO
MEDICAL CARE AND VARIOUS OTHER THINGS AND THEY WANT SOMETHING
DIFFERENT AND THE ONLY WAY TO ACHIEVE THAT IS BY EDUCATING ALL
PEOPLE, BUT WOMEN IN PARTICULAR.
SO WHAT WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR THEM?
I THINK AS IN ANY PLACE THAT BEGINS TO DEVELOP, YOU KNOW, JOBS BECOME AVAILABLE.
EDUCATED PEOPLE RETURN TO THEIR HOMES AND THEY WANT THINGS THAT
THEY HAVE SEEN OTHER PLACES.
THEY NOW HAVE SKILLS, MAYBE THEY CAN SEW, THEY CAN EARN SOME
MONEY MAKING CLOTHING FOR PEOPLE.
OUR GIRLS ARE LEARNING GARDENING.
WE'RE STARTING A SMALL NURSERY, SO THEY WOULD HAVE FRUIT THAT THEY COULD SELL.
SO THOSE ARE JUST THE MOST BASIC LEVEL, BUT IN ADDITION TO THAT,
THEY COULD BE TEACHERS, POLITICIANS, THEY COULD BE FUTURE LEADERS.
THEY MIGHT BE PASTORS.
YOU KNOW, OUR GIRLS ALL HAVE DREAMS.
ONE WANTS TO BE A PILOT.
SO THEY'VE SEEN, YOU KNOW, THESE THINGS.
ONE OF THE CHURCH WOMEN SAID TO ME, A FEW YEARS AGO, SHE SAID
WHEN WE WERE YOUNG, WE DIDN'T KNOW IT WAS IMPORTANT TO EDUCATE
GIRLS, BUT NOW WE HAVE MET EDUCATED WOMEN AND WE SEE WHAT A DIFFERENCE IT MAKES.
WE WANT THIS FOR OUR DAUGHTERS.
>> WITH THAT SAID, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT BEING AT HOME AND
IS IT A SITUATION WHERE MAYBE IT WOULD BE BETTER OFF IF THEY LEFT
SOUTH SUDAN OR CAN THEY MAKE IT THERE?
>> RECENTLY ON MY LAST VISIT IN JUNE, I TALK TO SOME OF OUR
STAFF AND ASKED, WHY DID YOU RETURN HERE, THIS VERY UNDEVELOPED BART OF SUDAN AND
WHY NOT -- PART OF STUNE AND WHY NOT ONE OF THE CITIES?
THEY SAID THIS IS WHERE OUR ANCESTORS ARE FROM.
WHY DO PEOPLE LIVE IN FARGO?
MY ANCESTORS LIVE HERE.
I HAVE TWO SETS BURIED IN WESTERN NORTH DAKOTA.
WHY DO PEOPLE RETURN TO THESE PLACES?
IT'S BECAUSE YOU HAVE A HISTORY HERE AND YOU WANT TO SEE IT DEVELOPED.
PEOPLE CAME HERE AND LIVED IN SOD HUTS AND THAT'S NOT THE CASE ANYMORE.
>> WITH THE GOVERNMENT, WITH FAMILIES, HAVE YOU GOTTEN ANY
FLACK FROM THE GOVERNMENT THERE OR FROM FAMILIES, ESPECIALLY
FATHERS MAYBE, IF FATHERS ARE INVOLVED?
>> YOU KNOW, WE'VE HAD TREMENDOUS SUPPORT FROM BOTH THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT IN OUR
COMMUNITY, OUR STATE.
WE'RE REGISTERED NGO, NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION IN SOUTH SUDAN.
WE'RE REGISTERED AS A CBO IN THE STATE.
WE WORK WITH THE LOCAL COMMISSIONER AND SO ON.
AND THE LOCAL COMMISSIONER WAS VERY ADAMANT THAT HE WANTED TO
SEE US BRING GIRLS FROM OTHER VILLAGES, SO NOT JUST ONE VILLAGE BENEFITED.
SO WE'RE TRYING TO BENEFIT THE ENTIRE COUNTY THAT HAVE
REPRESENTATIVES IN OUR SCHOOL.
FATHERS, THE AGREEMENT WE HAVE WITH GUARDIANS, BECAUSE ALL OF
OUR CHILDREN HAVE NEITHER LIVING FATHER NOR MOTHER, BUT THEY LIVE
WITH MAYBE A GRANDPARENT OR AUNT OR UNCLE, IS THAT THEY WILL
LEAVE THE CHILD IN THE SCHOOL UNTIL HER EDUCATION IS COMPLETE,
UNTIL, YOU KNOW, SHE CAN'T GO ANY FURTHER IN HER EDUCATION.
AND THEY HAVE ALL AGREED TO THAT.
AND THE CHIEFS HAVE SAID, IF YOU WITHDRAW YOUR CHILD FROM SCHOOL,
YOU WILL HAVE TO REPAY ASA FOR THE EDUCATION BECAUSE THEY HAVE
INVESTED IN THIS GIRL.
AND IN THE FUTURE OF OUR COMMUNITY.
SO IT'S FOR US ALL.
SO WE HAVE NOT HAD ANY -- I MEAN, ONLY SUPPORT.
ONLY SUPPORT.
>> WELL, I GUESS MY QUESTION, TOO, COMES BACK FROM YOU TALK
ABOUT THE CULTURE OF THE VALUE OF A YOUNG LADY, AND I'M NOT
TRYING TO DOWNPLAY IT OR MEAN ANYTHING DISRESPECTFUL, BUT THE
VALUE OF A YOUNG CHILD WAS BRINGING CATTLE INTO THE FAMILY.
THERE -- BUT THESE ARE ORPHAN GIRLS TOO.
>> YEAH, BUT IT'S THE SAME.
YOU KNOW, IF YOU'RE AN ORPHAN, YOU'RE ANOTHER MOUTH TO FEED, SO
IF SOME INCOME CAN COME INTO THE FAMILY BY, YOU KNOW, THROUGH
CATTLE DOWRY, I'VE TALKED TO, THERE'S AN OLD GENTLEMAN,
GIDEON, IN THE VILLAGE WHO'S IN HIS 90s AND, OF COURSE, EAST
SEEN EVERYTHING AND HE SAID THAT WASN'T A PRACTICE YEARS AGO, TO
MARRY GIRLS OFF AT 14 OR 15.
THEY WERE 20, 21, MATURE GIRLS.
OF COURSE, THEY'RE LESS LIKELY TO DIE IN CHILDBIRTH AND THEY
NEED TO BE GROOMED BY THEIR FAMILIES.
IT'S THE SUPREME POVERTY THAT HAS DRIVEN -- EXTREME POVERTY
THAT HAS DRIVEN PEOPLE TO THIS POINT, SO WHAT OUR GUARDIANS SEE
IS IF THESE GIRLS GET EDUCATED, THEY WILL ONE DAY BE ABLE TO
PROVIDE HELP TO THEIR FAMILIES, SO THEY SEE IT AS AN INVESTMENT
IN THE FUTURE, SO THEY'RE DELAYING -- JUST LIKE WE ALL HAVE TO DO.
DELAY THAT SHORT-TERM GAIN FOR SOMETHING THAT'S MORE LONG-LASTING.
>> YOU THINK THE UNITED STATES HAS DONE ENOUGH IN THIS REGION OF THE COUNTRY?
>> THE UNITED STATES WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN NEGOTIATING THE
PEACE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE NORTH AND THE SOUTH, AND THEN
THEY HAVE REALLY JUST LET IT LAY.
AND BILLIONS OF DOLLARS HAVE POURED INTO THAT COUNTRY AND
THAT HAS GONE INTO THE WRONG THING.
NOT DEVELOPING ROADS, SCHOOLS, HOSPITALS.
YOU KNOW, THERE'S SOME SHORT-TERM DEVELOPMENT OF OIL
THAT'S CONTINUED TO FLOW, BUT, YOU KNOW, WHAT ABOUT SOME
GUIDANCE, SOME ADDITIONAL HELP IN SHOWING HOW THE MONEY BEST BE
USED OR HAVE SOME TIES TO, YOU KNOW, THE RESULTS AS OPPOSED TO
SIMPLY SENDING THE MONEY THERE?
THIS IS A COUNTRY THAT HAS NO HISTORY OF GOVERNING ITSELF.
THE LEADERS ARE GUERILLA FIGHTERS.
THEY KNOW HOW TO DO THAT, THEY KNOW HOW TO HANDLE THINGS
MILITARILY, BUT THEY DON'T HAVE A HISTORY OF KNOWING HOW TO
NEGOTIATE, HANDLE COMMERCE AND SO ON.
I DON'T KNOW, I CAN'T WORK AT THAT LEVEL, SO I CAN'T PRESUME
TO SAY EXACTLY HOW IT SHOULD BE DONE, BUT TRULY IT WOULD BE
TERRIBLE TO LET THIS NEW NATION JUST DEVOLVE INTO CHAOS.
>> HOW MANY TRIPS HAVE YOU MADE?
MY QUESTION REALLY IS, IS IT DANGEROUS?
DO YOU FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE IN THE REGION, OR IS IT DANGEROUS FOR
YOU TO TRAVEL THERE AND WORK THERE?
>> I'VE BEEN THERE NINE TIMES.
I'VE SPENT COUNTLESS MONTHS THERE.
A COUPLE MONTHS A YEAR, SOMETIMES MORE THAN THAT, OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS.
THERE HAVE BEEN THREATS WHEN I'VE BEEN THERE, PRIMARILY, YOU
KNOW -- ACTUALLY, DIFFERENT TRIBES THAT ARE FIGHTING RIGHT
NOW, BUT SOME CATTLE RUSTLERS THAT ARE ARMED AND STEAL CATTLE,
SO PRIMARILY THE DANGER IS FOR PEOPLE OUT IN THE OPEN WITH
THEIR CATTLE, HAVING THEIR CATTLE BE STOLEN AND BEING KILLED IN THE PROCESS.
I'VE NEVER PERSONALLY FELT UNSAFE.
I KNOW MY STAFF WOULD GO OUT OF TEAR WAY TO PROTECT ME IF
THAT -- THEIR WAY TO PROTECT ME IF THAT WOULD BECOME NECESSARY,
BUT NO, I DON'T FEEL UNSAFE WHEN I'M THERE.
>> DO YOU FEEL LIKE YOU'RE MAKING PROGRESS WITH THE GIRLS?
>> OH, I KNOW WE'RE MAKING PROGRESS.
OUR GIRLS, OUR MISSION IS PROTECT, EDUCATE AND EMPOWER.
WE PROTECT THEM FROM FORCED MARRIAGE AND ALSO PROTECT THEM
FROM, FOR INSTANCE, PROVIDING VACCINATIONS TO THINGS THAT
AREN'T AVAILABLE TYPICALLY THERE, LIKE HEPATITIS B, WHICH
IS A TREMENDOUS PROBLEM IN SOUTH SUDAN.
ABOUT 30% OF PEOPLE ARE POSITIVE FOR HEP-B AND RIGHT NOW WE'RE
LOOKING AT PROTECTING THEM SHOULD SOMETHING HAPPEN IN OUR
AREA THAT REQUIRES THEM TO FLEE, THAT WE ARE -- OUR STAFF WOULD
FIND THEM AND WE'D FIND A WAY TO DELIVER SERVICES TO THEM WHEREVER THEY GO.
BUT PROTECT, EDUCATE IN SCHOOL SUBJECTS, PRACTICAL LIFE SKILLS,
AND EMPOWER THEM TO BE LEADERS AND GIVE BACK.
AND IN TERMS OF LEADERSHIP, THE GIRLS DO THE DISTRIBUTION OF THE
UNDERWEAR TO OTHER GIRLS.
OUR GIRLS HAVE BEEN ASKED TO SPEAK IN CHURCH CEREMONIES,
THEY'VE BEEN ASKED TO SPEAK WHEN THE GOVERNOR CAME TO THE TOWN.
THEY ARE LOOKED AT AS ROLE MODELS, AND MORE GIRLS HAVE
ENROLLED IN THE LOCAL SCHOOL BASED ON THEIR EXAMPLE.
THEY'VE GONE TO THEIR PARENTS AND SAID, THESE ORPHAN GIRLS ARE
GOING TO SCHOOL, WHY CAN'T WE GO SCHOOL?
SO THERE'S THIS KIND OF PEER PRESSURE, AND OUR GIRLS GO TO SCHOOL CLEAN.
THEIR CLOTHES ARE CLEAN, THEIR BODIES ARE WASHED, SO THEY STAND
OUT IN THE LOCAL VILLAGE.
>> WELL, MAYBE YOU'RE TELLING US, BUT CAN YOU TALK TO OUR
AUDIENCE ABOUT THINGS WE TAKE FOR GRANTED THAT ARE NOT COMMON THERE?
>> WELL, OF COURSE, CLEAN RUNNING WATER.
OUR COOKS -- WE'VE JUST BUILT A KITCHEN AND DINING COMPOUND, SO
OUR COOKS WILL HAVE RUNNING WATER TO WASH DISHES INSTEAD OF
HAULING IT IN A WHEELBARROW AND A BUCKET.
WE HAVE ELECTRICITY.
THE ONLY OTHER PLACE IN THE VILLAGE THAT HAS ELECTRICITY IS THE CLINIC.
SO WE HAVE SOLAR POWER THAT WE JUST INSTALLED.
WE HAVE TWO FLUSH TOILETS AND YOU HAVE TO DRIVE 100 MILES TO FIND A FLUSH TOILET.
>> A LOT OF THINGS WE PROBABLY TAKE FOR GRANTED.
I'M SORRY, WE'RE OUT OF TIME, BUT IF PEOPLE WANT TO GET
INVOLVED, WHAT'S THE BEST PLACE.
>> ASAH IN SOUTH SUDAN IS OUR WEBSITE.
JUST SEARCH AFRICAN SOUL AMERICAN HEART.
YOU CAN CALL ME, OUR FACEBOOK IS ON THERE AS WELL.
>> DEB, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
>> STAY TUNED FOR MORE.
>>> IN 1946, JAY HORMEL FOUNDED THE HORMEL GIRLS TO CREATE JOBS
FOR VETERANS IN WORLD WAR II AND TO PROMOTE HORMEL PROPPED.
THE GULP OF MUSICIANS AND SINGERS GREW TO INCLUDE 60
MEMBERS AND WAS A TOP-RATED SHOW ON THREE NATIONAL RADIO NETWORKS.
THE HORMEL GIRLS ARE A TRUE TREASURE OF HISTORY AND AN EARLY
HE SAID MILITARY LADIES COME AND WORK FOR ME MILITARY LADIES, FIND OUT WHT
WE CAN BE
HEY HO, HOW DO YOU LIKE IT HEY HO, YOU GOT TO TRY IT CANNED DINTY MOORE
THE HORMEL GIRLS CARAVAN ORCHESTRA SHOW 35 CARS WENT WE DRIVE UP, DRESSES ALL
MESSING DANCING AND DRAGGING EVERYTHING WE EAT IT'S A SMALL PRICE TO PAY TO
LET THE SERVICE GIRLS DREAM HEY HO, WE'RE HORMEL GIRLS HEY HO, WE'RE HERE TO SING
FAMILIAR -- SPAM AND DINTY MOORE STOET THE HORMEL GIRLS CARAVAN ORCHESTRA SHOW
WE BROADCAST ON CBS AND HOLLYWOOD AND VINE WE'LL TELL YOU WHAT YOU NEED
TO KNOW ABOUT EVERY HORMEL PRODUCT YOU'LL HEAR ON IT OUR SHOW
WE'RE GIRLS WITH THE SHOW ON SATURDAY NIGHT DRIVING TWO BY TWO WITH A
PLASTIC BAG FULL OF HORMEL BRANDS MR. MANAGER, HOW YOUR PRODUCS MOVING
SALES ARE IMPROVING HEY HO, HOW DO YOU LIKE IT HEY HO, WE'RE HERE TO SING
SPAM AND DINTY MOORE WE GOT CHILI, GOT TO TWIST YOUR ARM, SO TONIGHT COME OUT
AND GIVE IT A GO THE HORMEL GIRLS CARAVAN ORCHESTRA SHOW
TONIGHT COME OUT AND GIVE ITA GO THE HORMEL GIRLS CARAVAN
>>> WELL, THAT'S ALL WE HAVE TO "PRAIRIE PULSE" THIS WEEK.
"PRAIRIE PULSE" THIS WEEK.
CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY CAPTION ASSOCIATES, LLC www.captionassociates.com
>> Announcer: FUNDING FOR MINNESOTA LEGACY PROGRAMS ARE
PROVIDED BY A GRANT FROM THE MINNESOTA ARTS AND CULTURAL
HERITAGE FUND, WITH MONEY FROM THE VOTE OF THE PEOPLE OF
MINNESOTA ON NOVEMBER 4th, 2008.
AND BY THE MEMBERS OF PRAIRIE PUBLIC