RUDA come to life in the year 1989 on the 31st of July. The idea was initiated by a group of students coming from Itang and consulted Mr. Michael Ruot Gatkuoth, who has completed his secondary school leaving certificate in Gambella Secondary School at that time. Immediately they took that golden opportunity to unite and bring together the Chie-Reang Community, and at the same time helping those sons of RUDA to find schools within Gambella Secondary and as well as wider regions.
The first program that comes to the mind of pioneers and great thinkers in 1989 is Educational Program. Hence an educated person is well defined by the below quotation as:
“Educated persons are those who choose wisely and courageously under any circumstances. If they choose between wisdom over foolishness, good over bad, virtue over vulgarity, regardless of the academic degrees they have, then they are educated(Khera Shiv,2001:28)”
Then with the leadership of Michael Ruot Gatkuoth, the students came up with the name Yom Educational Development Society (YEDS). During the summer of 1989 many students got the chance of joining summer courses and during the academic year of 1989/90 many were enrolled in Gambella and Itang secondary schools through the joint effort of YEDS.
Later in Dimma and Mizan Secondary schools, many students emanating from Yom come to know each other and united as one RUDA family. In the year 1993, Michael Ruot Gatkuoth paid a visit to Mizan and Dimma Refugee Camp where YEDS held several meetings with the main focus on Education Program. As the senior brother coming from Alemaya University in Ethiopia, Michael was so happy seeing his younger brothers performing well in both secondary and primary levels.
In the year 2002 after YEDS reached 13 years old (1989-2001) then some progress was made in Gambella by our brothers working as government officials. Then they held a meeting where they come up with the new name called RUDA (Reang Unity & Development Association). This name was welcomed and approved by all the Reang community living in Gambella, Itang, Dimma, and Ponyido refugee camps as well as those staying abroad.
For the last 30 years, RUDA has graduated more than one Thousand graduates worldwide. For instance, Gambella Region alone graduated more than 100 students in July 2018. Thank be to God for bestowing many blessings to us through RUDA.
RUDA Community 