St. George's University Aids U.S. Quest for Peace in South Sudan

GRENADA, West Indies, Jan. 13, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- American leaders at the international St. George's University unveiled a collaborative program to allow 11 students from war-torn South Sudan to study medicine in Grenada, West Indies. St. George's University is offering free tuition, housing, and a special program to prepare the students for medical education and for their ultimate return to practice in their home country.

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St. George's University, founded and led by American Charles R. Modica, is committed to supporting the U.S. in its humanitarian mission in the success of the South Sudan. The University's research arm, The Windward Islands Research and Education Foundation (WINDREF), will support the students' living expenses for the duration and the government of Northern Bahr el Ghazal is helping the students' families while they are studying.

"The students were carefully chosen for their academic achievement under extreme adversity and their commitment to return to their home country upon graduation to help build its medical infrastructure," said Chancellor Modica. "St. George's has a long history of commitment to public health and I see no better way to expand that mission than by educating and preparing students from conflict-affected countries to become MDs who can then return to rebuild the health infrastructure of their countries. We are so happy to be able to offer this scholarship and to work with WINDREF and the government of Northern Bahr el Ghazal to ensure the students take advantage of this opportunity, especially at this time."

The outbreak of hostilities threatened student participation in the program in mid-December, but all students have now reached Nairobi and are on their way to Grenada. The inaugural group is comprised of students from both the Dinka and Nuer communities. Among them is one student from Jonglei State who was delayed by three weeks and forced to shelter in the UN compound in Juba before being able to leave.

The scholarship had been in the planning stages with officials at St. George's University, WINDREF, and Minister Tong Deng Anei, Minister of Health for South Sudan's Northern Bahr el Ghazal state since late last year and was brought to fruition just days before fighting broke out.

About St. George's University
St. George's University is a center of international education, drawing students and faculty from over 140 countries to the island of Grenada, West Indies. St. George's is affiliated with educational institutions worldwide, including in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and Ireland. The University has contributed over 13,000 physicians, veterinarians, scientists, and public health and business professionals who are studying across the world. The University programs are accredited and approved by many governing authorities. For more information, visit www.sgu.edu.

About WINDREF 
WINDREF (Windward Islands Research and Education Foundation) was founded in 1994 to seek to advance health and environmental development through multi-disciplinary research and education programs. WINDREF, located on St George's University's True Blue campus in Grenada, promotes collaborative relationships between internationally recognized scholars, scientists, and charitable institutions.

SOURCE St. George's University