The Omo Valley has an extremely special place in my heart, as it does for almost all who have travelled there. It is the one tribal region where clients return with me repeatedly, even 3 or 4 times! It is hard to imagine my first trip there was nearly 15 years ago when there were barely dirt tracks, and one had to bushwhack their way through and down. Selfishly, I never wanted it to change. Oh, the memories and stories that will be with me forever and are the ones I will still be sharing till my last breath.
These particular tribal areas touch the soul of many photographers as they did with Mark Overgaard, who was inspired to make a HUGE difference! During his second visit, he learned of the Suri literacy project, which ran for 20 years but had ended.
Before the late 1990s, no written version of the Suri language existed! The Suri Literacy Project (SLP), over its 20-year run, helped to change that by creating teaching materials, training Suri teachers and nurturing the mother tongue literacy of Suri children and adults through non-formal classes. Gergere, quoted below, learned to write Suri in the project and became one of those teachers; his passion for this mission remains strong!
“It is important to educate our people in Suri so that our language and identity will not be lost. All people in Ethiopia have a right to learn in their own language. We want to hold onto our language, too, so that we will speak it forever. We will continue to teach Suri to our children so they will know it.”
–Gergere Siralugu, Suri Literacy Project teacher, 2013
We all desire for tribal and cultural languages to be forever protected! Thanks to the passion of Mark Overgaard, saving the Suri language is in our hands and is possible. Mark has worked tirelessly since 2021 to restart the Suri Literacy Project. The video he has put together about the Suri and the project is STUNNING! I know you will want to watch it, but I will warn you it will make you want to return or move the desire to go to the Omo to the top of your list!!
Most importantly, I know many of you will have the desire to help with the funding still needed to relaunch this vital project to save the Suri language. Mark has done an excellent job with the video and through written text on his site to explain the project, its history, his involvement, and the help needed to make it happen. Here is a link to the complete details. A downloadable PDF will be made available soon, and when it is ready, I will be sure to follow up with the link in a newsletter.
I could not be more thrilled to spend time in the Omo again at the end of this year and at the end of 2024. I know we will make this happen, and I feel honoured that my guest and I will have the opportunity to help and see the project at work!
I have donated to the project for each client going to the Suri with me this year. I will donate the same for each client going with us to the Omo Valley in 2024. Here is the direct link if you wish to DONATE immediately.
Piper, thank you for sending this! So interesting and informative!