This was Pelley’s second trip to the area. Last year, she visited as a member of Passion for Sudan, a group of seven local business women who raised money for projects to support Sudanese women. “I knew after my trip last January that I would want to go again,” Pelley says.

This year, Pelley and Ogletree ran an eight-day music and art camp for local children. With the help of donations from St. James Westminster Church, she was even able to purchase small instruments to leave behind.

“The first day we had 20 kids and it went up from there. One day we had about 100 children, from toddlers to teenagers,” Pelley says. “We opened it up to everyone. There’s no way you are going to turn anyone away.”

While some might scoff at the notion of bringing music and art to an area where people struggle to meet their basic daily needs, Pelley sees real value in her contribution. “If I can work with the kids and let them have some fun during the course of their day, which probably consists of taking care of their smaller siblings and staying at home waiting for their mothers to come back with water and something to eat, then I’m good with that.”

Pelley’s belief in the value of music was strengthened by a visit to a refugee camp in the village of Rumrol. “Most of the people had come from the Darfur area. They all shared the same story of having to walk for days without food or water,” Pelley says.

“But still, when we arrived, they put together a welcome for us. There were over 100 people in this big tent and up at the front there was a group of kids singing. That just proves to me how important music is. Music is the way you can draw everybody in, regardless of what language you speak or where you are from. Music is always the common denominator.”

Pelley says she didn’t see many signs of improvement in southern Sudan, apart from a new proliferation of outdoor latrines. There did seem to be many more people in the area, she says, including a large number of soldiers.

“Because I’d been there before, I at least knew what to expect. So it didn’t leave me as shell shocked as the first time,” Pelley says. “Having said that, your feelings are still the same when you see the devastation.”

But Pelley knows this trip to Sudan won’t be her last. “I think when the Sudanese see you come back, it gives them a feeling of hope that people haven’t forgotten about them,” she says.

“And when you go back and see a lot of the same people, it gets in your blood; it gets in your soul. I have new friends in Sudan, and you do what you can for your friends.”

Pelley travels to Sudan under the auspices of Canadian Aid For Southern Sudan (CASS), an organization that helps help Sudan rebuild their lives and communities. CASS was founded by Londoners Glen Pearson and Jane Roy. Fore more information, please visit www.casscanada.net