Helping Hands for South Sudan

Contact us: (415) 539-9769

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Helping Hands for South Sudan

Contact us: (415) 539-9769

  • Home
  • DONATE
  • About South Sudan
  • Our Story
  • Events
  • Contact

Events

As a nonprofit organization benefitting South Sudan's refugees we make every effort to bring awareness to the ongoing humanitarian crisis happening in and around this east African country. Our Founder Gabriel  Nyok has a degree in Justice Studies and a minor in Human Rights from San Jose State University, so he brings his knowledge and experience to panel discussions, speaking engagements, and humanitarian trips. He has spoken at schools, churches, clubs and businesses. Would you like for Gabriel to speak at your organization or event? Please email us at helpinghandsforsouthsudan@gmail.com.

Gilroy Presbyterian Church

December 22, 2024

6000 Miller Ave, Gilroy, CA 95020 


Join us as Founder Gabriel Nyok shares the important work being done in South Sudan and Uganda, bringing education to refugee children there. Come ask questions and find out how you can help make a difference.

Presbyterian Church of Los Gatos

December 15, 2024

16575 Shannon Road

Los Gatos, CA 95032 


Founder Gabriel Nyok spoke to a full room as he returned to his church home-away-from-home. He is visiting the United States to share an update on the work being done in South Sudan and Uganda at multiple schools, bringing education to refugee children there. He talked about the scarcity of food for meals for the children as well as the current needs for windows, doors and dormitory bunk beds in one of the newly built schools he helped build.

Presbyterian Church of Los Gatos

December 10, 2023

11 AM (after the 10 AM worship service)

16575 Shannon Road

Los Gatos, CA 95032 


Founder Gabriel Nyok is in the country for a month, making presentations and furthering the work of Helping Hands for South Sudan! Join us as he shares our latest news and learn how you can be a part of this important mission to educate refugee children.

Kiwanis Club of San Carlos

November 26, 2023, 2 PM

Another informative presentation by our Founder Gabriel Akim Nyok.

San Martin Presbyterian Church

February 26, 2023

13200 Lincoln Avenue, San Martin, CA 

San Martin Presbyterian Church welcomed our Founder Gabriel Akim Nyok for an informative presentation.

Gilroy Presbyterian Church

February 26, 2023
6000 Miller Ave, Gilroy, CA 95020


Gabriel Nyok teamed up with Pastor Trevor Van Laar for a question and answer session at Gilroy Presbyterian Church during their worship service.

WestGate Church | Saratoga Campus

February 19, 2023

1735 Saratoga Ave, San Jose, CA 95129


Gabriel Nyok spoke at WestGate Church in San Jose, California and shared the mission of Helping Hands for South Sudan. 

Board Members Visited East Africa

February, 2023

Uganda and South Sudan


Team members, Treasurer Ron Dickel, Marion Dickel and Pastor David Watermulder traveled from Los Gatos, California to East Africa where they met up with Gabriel Nyok to visit the schools our sponsored students attend. This included Gulu Primary and High Schools in Uganda and Juba Integrated Primary School in Juba, South Sudan. They visited with students and administrators to see firsthand the good work that's being done by Helping Hands for South Sudan. They also visited with families at the Panyndli Refugee Camp. For photos of their travels, check out this slide show.

Los Altos Christian School

January, 2023

625 Magdalena Avenue, Los Altos, California 94024 


Founder Gabriel Nyok (shown with the school's Music Director Norita Hoegel and the flag of South Sudan) spoke to teachers and students at this private K-8 school about how we are making education possible for refugee children. In response, the students of Los Altos Christian School held a fundraiser and presented our organization with a check for $2,000! We are so grateful to the school and its families.

Gabriel Akim Nyok speaking at a church
Gabriel Akim Nyok with wife Roda and Pastor David Watermulder
Audience at a discussion panel event about South Sudan
Gabriel Akim Nyok speaking at an event
Pastor David Watermulder praying for Gabriel Akim Nyok and his family as they move back to Africa

A Big Move!

September 26, 2022

Uganda and South Sudan


After living and working in the United States for 16 years, Gabriel moved with his family back to East Africa to be closer to what matters most—the refugee children. 


Gabriel and his family have made their home in Kampala, Uganda while he works in both Uganda and South Sudan. This move enables Gabriel to visit refugee camps often and work more closely with schools and administrators, furthering the work of this nonprofit in a more face-to-face way. He will return to the U.S. periodically for meetings and speaking engagements. While his friends and associates in the U.S. miss seeing Gabriel in person, we are as committed as ever to working with him to help bring education to the children of South Sudan.


(Photo at left: Pastor David Watermulder led the congregation of Presbyterian Church of Los Gatos, CA in prayer, blessing Gabriel and Roda's journey and future, September 18, 2022)

Burlingame High School

September 19, 2022, 2022

1 Mangini Way

Burlingame, CA 94010


Our Founder Gabriel visited the "Home of the Panthers" to share his vision of bringing education to the refugee children of South Sudan.

Lucille M. Nixon Elementary School

September 15, 2022, 2022

1711 Stanford Avenue

Stanford, CA 94305


Gabriel spoke to students and administrators at this internationally and socio-economically diverse school named after outstanding Palo Alto educator, Lucille Nixon. This was a particularly meaningful presentation, as this is the school Gabriel's own children attended. It was surely a moment of pride as they watched their father share his important and compassionate work.

Venture Christian Church

August 28, 2022

16845 Hicks Road,

Los Gatos, CA 95032


Gabriel was pleased to speak to the membership at Venture Christian Church, an engagement which led to the sponsorship of education for six refugee children! Thank you, Venture!

WestGate Church | South Hills Campus

January 30, 2022

6601 Camden Ave, San Jose, CA 95120


After an extended break from speaking engagements due to the Covid19 pandemic, Gabriel spoke to an interested congregation at WestGate Church (South Hills campus) and heard firsthand what conditions are for South Sudan's refugees and how our nonprofit is helping to provide schooling for the children.

in the news

KRON4 News Article

BORGEN PROJECT BLOG

BORGEN PROJECT BLOG

This California Bay Area news station ran a story about the local South Sudanese community coming together over the fighting in their homeland. Our own Dave Watermulder was interviewed.

BORGEN PROJECT BLOG

BORGEN PROJECT BLOG

BORGEN PROJECT BLOG

This organization works toward ending poverty and hunger. We were honored to be included in their article, "Five Charities Operating in South Sudan". 

500 Words Magazine

BORGEN PROJECT BLOG

500 Words Magazine

This nonprofit online magazine shares stories highlighting the diversity of life in the Sudans. Our organization made their list of the leading local and international charity organizations in South Sudan.

Gabriel Nyok speaking at Presbyterian Church of Los Gatos, CA, December 2018

Presbyterian Church of Los Gatos

December 9, 2018

16575 Shannon Road.

Los Gatos, CA 95032


After a gracious introduction by Pastor David Watermulder, Gabriel spoke during the worship service at PCLG where he has been a member for the past several years. He talked about his life as one of many refugees from South Sudan, how his life has been blessed by God and the many compassionate people from the church who have helped advise and offer him assistance and direction. He knows it's his calling to give back and help other refugees through Helping Hands for South Sudan.  Watch Gabriel's 8-minute presentation here.

World Affairs Conversations That Matter discussion with Gabriel Akim Nyok

Kiwanis Club of Redwood City

Thursday, December 20, 2018

Redwood City, CA


Gabriel spoke at a Kiwanis Club event about his background, his journey from South Sudan to Kenya to the United States, and the work that his nonprofit, Helping Hands for South Sudan, is doing to educate children.

UNHCR World Refugee Day - Humanizing the World Refugee Crisis

Wednesday, June 20, 2018,  6:00 PM – 8:00 PM PDT

San Francisco Veterans War Memorial Building, 401 Van Ness Avenue 210, San Francisco, CA 94102


As part of the 70th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights series, this program presented by the United Nations Refugee Agency,  addressed the right to recognition as a person before the law, the right to asylum in other countries, and reduced inequality. This event commemorated the strength, courage and perseverance of millions of refugees. Our founder Gabriel Akim Nyok participated on the panel discussion. Click here for more information.

World Affairs Council

October 11, 2017


Founder Gabriel Akim Nyok participated on a panel moderated by Jane Wales (CEO of World Affairs and Global Philanthropy Forum) discussing the South Sudanese refugee crisis from both policy and human perspectives. The event was sold out with chairs lined up in rows providing just enough room to squeeze through.

ENGAGE | The South Sudan Migration Story

August 9, 2017

Union Square, San Francisco


This event on World Affairs examined the pressing global issues going on in South Sudan. Gabriel Akim Nyok, Founder of Helping Hands for South Sudan and spokesperson for Rebuild South Sudan, Diana Essex-Lettieri, Deputy Director of Asylum Access, and Valentino Achak Deng, co-founder of the Valentino Achak Deng Foundation, called upon their unique expertise and personal experience to shed light on what it means to be displaced from war-torn South Sudan.

Presbyterian Church of Los Gatos

January 3, 2015

16575 Shannon Road.

Los Gatos, CA 95032


Founder Gabriel Akim Nyok drew a crowd at this special event hosted by Presbyterian Church of Los Gatos where he and his wife are church members. Gabriel discussed his refugee life in Kenya and how he came to live in the United States. He also shared his desire to help the children of South Sudan by raising funds for their education.

Contact Us

Helping Hands for South Sudan

16575 Shannon Road, Los Gatos, CA 95032

(415) 539-9769

helpinghandsforsouthsudan@gmail.com

Improving the Lives of Refugee Children Through Education

Nonprofit Tax ID #82-5215402

Copyright © 2020 Helping Hands for South Sudan