About Roots of South Sudan

Our mission is to empower women in South Sudan through comprehensive programs that address trauma healing, education, economic empowerment, and community building.

  • 60+ South Sudanese women are active members of The Roots Project Centre.

  • Women from 24 South Sudanese tribes come together, fostering cross-tribal relationships and community.

  • 300+ Ethiopian and Sudanese women from Gorom Refugee Camp are ROOTS artisans.

  • Daily healthy meals are provided at no cost to members.

  • 10 children, as young as three months, attend the Centre with their mothers.

  • Many women receive emergency assistance during times of crisis.

  • Over 70 children and dependents of Roots Center members have received high school scholarships.

Our Misson

The ROOTS Project, founded in Juba, South Sudan in May 2009 by Anyieth D’Awol, empowers women through traditional beadwork, creating economic opportunities and fostering community resilience.

  • Over 70 children and dependents of Roots Center members have received high school scholarships.

  • 9 children have completed high school after receiving scholarships.

  • All women receive food and transportation support during periods of economic hardship, including conflict, COVID, and financial collapse.

  • Roots Project members have earned over $950,000 (2011–2025) through the US-based Roots of South Sudan, in addition to income generated at the Centre in Juba and via collaborations like Made51.

  • Through Made51, Roots products are sold in major retailers like UNIQLO, John Lewis, and Marimekko, and reach customers across Africa, Europe, Asia, and the US

  • Each member’s income sustains 6–10 family members.

In 2011, Roots of South Sudan became a 501(c)(3) organization to support this work by raising funds and resources. Our programs specifically help internally displaced South Sudanese women from diverse tribes, and Sudanese and Ethiopian women refugees, earn income from through craft-based livelihoods, while supporting job skills and trauma healing, to promote resilient, and sustainable communities.

Impact and Beneficiaries

Organization

Roots of South Sudan is a 501(c)3 non-profit dedicated to supporting the women and children of South Sudan. 

The organization was incorporated as a state of Washington non-profit on March 4, 2011. IRS 501(c)3 approval was granted on March 30, 2012, with an effective date of March 4, 2011.

Roots of South Sudan is governed by a board with extensive experience in finance, non-profit management, fundraising and international issues.

The Board of Directors

Anyieth D’awol

Founder the ROOTS PROJECT

LLB Law, LLM Human Rights, in 2006/07 and 2008/09 Anyieth was a Human Rights Officer for UNMIS/SS (United Nations Mission in Sudan/South Sudan).  In 2009 she founded The Roots Project to provide a secure environment for women to pursue economic independence through traditional crafts.  In 2016, Anyieth trained with the Center for Mind Body Medicine (CMBM) whose mission is providing population-wide trauma healing to communities affected by conflict, natural disaster and violence and joined the CMBM faculty in 2020. Anyieth is South Sudanese by birth and a US citizen.

Frank McKulka

President/Treasurer

BS Chemistry/MBA Finance.  Frank completed a 28-year career with BASF in 2006.  At the end of his career, he was a division president with responsibility across the NAFTA region.  He was a board member of BASF USA and a member of several global oversight committees for BASF AG.

Karen Perret

Secretary

BA Anthropology, JD Law. Karen has practiced law for 30 years in Seattle and Paris. She has served on the boards of the World Trade Club of Seattle and the French American Chamber of Commerce. 

Timothy McKulka

Director

Virginia Young

Director

BFA Colorado College, Ginnie has 20 years of experience building brands for both large and small organizations.  Prior to starting a company, she worked for J. Walter Thompson, creating national campaigns for Fortune 500 clients.

Susan Henoch

Director

BA Cultural Anthropology.  Molly manages digital content production for Microsoft Store’s North America e-commerce sites. having led marketing content production in over 40 markets.  She spent 20+ years working for The Seattle Times.

Kathy Gundesen

Director

BA Education, Western Washington University.  20 years in the Baking / Food Manufacturing Industry in Product Development, Sales and Marketing roles; including working with national and global retailers. Kathy is now a secondary school teacher. 

Bolajoko Adeniyi

Director

Board certified physician in Internal and Lifestyle Medicine; certified as a health and wellness coach.  Medical Director and coach, United Healthcare. 

Alana Bell

Director

Spiritual Guidance Certificate, Atlantic University.  Founding Program Director Becraft Scholars, Fulcrum Foundation. Trustee, Seattle Academy of Arts and Sciences. Member, Racial Justice Committee Archdiocese of Seattle.

BFA Photography, Tim is a photographer, editor and multimedia storyteller who lived and worked in Sudan and South Sudan for over seven years. He has produced two books of photographs and stories about Sudan and South Sudan – We’ll Make our Homes Here: Sudan at the Referendum and A Shared Struggle: The People and Cultures of South Sudan.  Earlier in his career Tim was a freelance photographer who worked in 20+ countries.

B.A., University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin. Ed.M. Harvard University, J.D., Rutgers University, School of Law. Susan has been an attorney, entrepreneur, non-profit leader, community volunteer and filmmaker.

Kathryn Kane

Director

BA Education MA Educational Psychology, Kathy has been an educator for over 40 years, teaching elementary, middle school and college education classes. 

Molly Hendrickson

Director