Coming from the war-torn county of South Sudan, Rieek Nyoach, 32, did not have the opportunity to get an education. When he came to America in 2017 as an international student at Saginaw Valley State University, his world changed forever. For the better.
As a child, he did not grow up going to school, and fled to refugee camps. Today, Nyoach is proud to have his Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology, and is teaching other refugees the impactful and invaluable skill of literacy. His nonprofit,
Grassroots Initiative Network, has recently expanded to the Midland community.
Once enrolled as a student at S.V.S.U., Nyoach experienced a lot of ‘firsts’ while in Saginaw, which was his first introduction to the United States.
“There was a culture shock based on the weather, meeting new people, being in a different environment, and the language,” he says. “The interesting part or the part that I was having a good feeling about was attending the school. It was a good feeling that I could talk with people of different backgrounds and different experiences.”
During his time at college, Nyoach became inspired to find a way to give back, and to start his organization, Grassroots Initiative Network (G.I.N.).
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Rieek NyoachThere are 200 students in South Sudan who are learning literacy skills, provided by five volunteer teachers. “When I was at school, I realized that was the only thing that could give you options to have a better life,” he says. “As a refugee, I’ve seen how people struggle when they don’t have a kind of education. As someone who’s come to the U.S., who has had opportunities and achieved my Bachelor’s degree, I feel like I need to give back to society. I need to give back to people that I have had a similar experience with and those that didn’t have a chance to go to school, but they are really in need.”
G.I.N. launched in 2022 in South Sudan, and has expanded to the U.S. in 2024 for its second location, headquartered in Midland. The small organization is dedicated to providing basic education and literacy to rural areas in South Sudan, working with vulnerable populations and refugees who have no access to education.
The nonprofit is governed by the Board of Directors both in the U.S. and in South Sudan. The network mainly focuses on instructing students in classrooms at three different levels. Students work their way up from level one to four. Once students reach level four, their skills are at a level which has them prepared to go to high school or attend vocational training. There are about 200 students in South Sudan who are learning literacy skills, provided by five volunteer teachers.
“I think literacy is important because when people are literate they have an option in life, Nyoach says. “Now in South Sudan, people don’t have options because they don’t have information, or anything that can support their life. Coming from somebody who has been in that situation, I know now that I have options to get a job, to think about my family and where I want to be, and what I can do for a better life.”
Nyoach says that 70 percent of the population in South Sudan cannot read or write. His goal is to help provide literacy, which will in turn provide a better life for themselves, their children, and the future of their communities.
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Rieek NyoachG.I.N is a small organization is dedicated to providing basic education and literacy to rural areas in South Sudan.When looking at spots for the U.S. location of the nonprofit, Nyoach says Midland made for a good headquarters. The willingness of the community to promote literacy, education, and to have better options in life is a feeling woven throughout the community in which he’s always felt welcome.
When the Midland resident initially came to the U.S., he experienced challenges in school while at Saginaw. He almost had to leave school, but thanks to the support of the community, churches, and school staff, he was able to stay.
“That support is actually one of the factors that made me do this because I know how it feels when you have people who turn up to support you,” he says. “My brother could not afford my school anymore, but some people stood up to support me, my education and my school. I got support from places here in Midland and in Saginaw, and other places that I didn’t even know. That networking was done by people who were willing to support somebody in need.”
That level of support from peers, teachers, and even strangers helped Nyoach feel empowered, and he now hopes G.I.N. can provide that to others in need.
“I hope to see people be able to learn, to be able to do something with their education, that they can achieve something and have many options in life,” he says. “I hope they can also educate their kid, get a job, and be a productive citizen. Through education, that’s the only way that they will be able to do that.”
In the future Nyoach hopes that donations, grants and funding will be able to pay volunteer teachers, and to help grow the free literacy program. The next step is to get internet access in South Sudan to allow more global connections with volunteer teachers and students.
For those who are seeking more information about Grassroots Initiative Network, they can call or email Nyoach at
rnyoach495@gmail.com. Tax-exempt donations to the organization can be made at
Global Compassion Inc. at 3910 Concord St. in Midland or online. There are also volunteer opportunities, fundraising, community support options, and outreach efforts available on the
GIN website.