Derrakoon Tree

December 2, 2025

In This Update

Resilience: Derakoon Tree
Panda Hope Kenya (PHK) in Progress
Our Fruit Trees
Undying Hope Alumni Association
Agriculture, Water, and Health Projects
Story of Hope from South Sudan: Reaping Fruit
How to Give

There is a type of tiny tree in the Aweil area that the indigenous people refer to as the Derrakoon. Aweil is my birthplace and where I grew up during the Sudanese civil war. Although I have never seen a Derrakoon tree, I admire what it symbolizes. This small tree can withstand harsh climates and strong winds, and it is so resilient that even elephants cannot uproot it. The name “Derrakoon” comes from its ability to resist elephants: “Derr” in the Dinka dialect means “to resist,” while “Akoon” means “elephant.” Together, they embody the idea of resisting challenges, just as the tree itself symbolizes resilience.

In her book, Cultivating Your Resilience: How to Thrive During Challenging Times, Ogden defines resilience as “what helps you stand tall when the winds of life try to knock you down. It is the bridge between where you are now and where you want to be” (Ogden, K. M., 2024, p. 2).

Similarly, Undying Hope represents a transformative vision designed to endure beyond the founders’ lifetime, if God wills. Since its inception, Undying Hope has faced numerous challenges, but with determination, resilience, and the support of its leaders and donors, we continue to persevere, just as the Derrakoon tree does.

Despite the challenges we face, we are making a positive impact in South Sudan and expanding our efforts into Kenya. In my August update, I mentioned that we encountered difficulties registering Undying Hope in Kenya because the name is already in use. We submitted three alternative names, one of which was Panda Hope Kenya. Fortunately, this name was selected as our operational name in Kenya.

Interestingly, “panda” means “climb” in Kiswahili, symbolizing the journey of climbing a mountain to transform hope into reality. This journey requires determination and tenacity to navigate through challenging terrains. In my native language, Dinka, “Panda” means “motherland,” symbolizing the hope for our homeland. Additionally, the panda is a rare and beautiful animal in China. All these meanings suggest that Panda Hope Kenya is an appropriate and meaningful name.

Moreover, the 60 fruit trees at one of Undying Hope’s two properties in Aweil have withstood the recent heavy rains and subsequent flooding, and they are growing very well. However, the trees on the other property have been adversely affected by the severe weather. We are thankful for the thriving 60 fruit trees!

In Addition, our scholarship program now has two more students in their final year at Juba University. Once they graduate, the total number of Undying Hope alumni from the university will reach 10. Horray!! We are also proud to announce that we have awarded our first scholarship to a medical student at Bahr el Ghazal University, marking a new beginning for us at that institution.

Better yet, the Undying Hope leadership team is actively developing projects related to agriculture, water, and health. I will share specific details in my next update once the committees finalize their plans, along with ways you can pray for and support our initiatives.

Story of Hope from South Sudan
REAPING FRUIT

When my husband (then fiancé) bought a plot of land years ago, he asked what fruit trees I would like planted because we both loved fresh fruits, not to mention that the community leaders had issued an order for every resident to plant at least four fruit trees on their plot of land. I mentioned a few and he went on to plant as much as the land could take while leaving just enough space for building our house and a front yard.

A few years ago, we started enjoying the fruits from these trees and I’m glad to say it’s not only our family enjoying but even our neighbors. Some community members, as they pass by my home, often ask for fruits, and some ask for seedlings, which I gladly give.
It’s amazing how what originally was to benefit only one family has turned out to benefit many. Over the last 2 years, we have given away 20 seedlings of different fruit trees and shared our fruit with 25 families.

Education is like the above story. Many embark on this journey hoping to enlighten themselves and probably carve a bright future for themselves or their immediate family. But the education endeavor has a far-reaching impact, touching whole communities and even the whole world at large.

The story of one of the alumni of the UHI scholarship program by the name of Evalina William Arkangelo is one such example. She recently graduated from medical school and is currently practicing at the Juba Teaching Hospital. It’s amazing to see her dedication and passion for saving lives. I had a stopover recently at the hospital, and her patients had many wonderful things to say about her.

Our sincere gratitude goes out to the UHI sponsors and donors for their generous contributions that made this young lady and many others able to complete school and help their countrymen and women. I believe this is just the beginning and there’s more of this impact following in the coming years.

Josephine Mangu
Undying Hope Coordinator