Our History

The vision for what is now the Eleos Project started in 1999 when Eleos Project founder and Executive Director, Mark Purington had the opportunity to be a part of a volunteer team that traveled to war-torn South Sudan to provide humanitarian aid and relief. It was during this trip that the seed was planted and grew into what is now the Eleos Project; a Colorado based International Development Organization that received its 501(c)(3) status in 2004.

In 2003, an Eleos Project volunteer team focused its efforts in Northern Bahr El Gahzal in an area called Twic County. Eleos Project was approved by the Sudan Relief & Rehabilitation Commission (SRRC) in Twic county to start their community development programs in August 2005. During this same time Eleos Project was granted 3 acres (1.5 Hecres) of land in the village of Turalei to build an outreach facility. This will be the base of operations for Eleos Project in Twic County.

Since 1999 Eleos Project volunteer teams have collected and delivered thousands of dollars in medical supplies for local clinics to treat those who are sick. Volunteer Eleos Project teams along side Sudanese community members have built clinics and health training centers. Medical teams consisting of doctors and nurses have treated hundreds of community members. Exercise books, pencils and chalk have been collected and delivered to local primary schools to help provide education for local children. Our Youth Soccer Program for Sudan has provided soccer uniforms and equipment for four youth soccer teams in 2005. Eleos Project has also been instrumental in supporting the Twic County Olympics, held annually to build team unity and spirit through sports. Through this effort two young mens soccer teams and two young womens volleyball teams have been equipped by Eleos Project teams.

After two decades of civil conflict in South Sudan, a peace agreement was signed in January 2005 by the Government of Sudan (GOS) and the Sudanese Peoples Liberation Movement (SPLM)/Sudanese Peoples Liberation Army (SPLA) opening a new chapter in Sudan's often tragic history. With the peace agreement in place the process of rebuilding and transforming lives and communities destroyed by the civil war can now begin.