SSHCO was created in 2008 when Founders Jacob Atem and Lual Deng Awan reconnected and decided to fashion their dream of building a health clinic in their home village of Maar in South Sudan into a reality. Both founders were once Lost Boys of Southern Sudan but before the civil war rendered them with such an unfortunate title, the pair was neighbors from the Jonglei State of South Sudan. When the violence and unrest broke through their village, Atem and Awan were separated. They eventually found one another one in Kakuma Refugee camp in Kenya where they spent the next nine years of their lives until they were able to relocate to America. Being on the receiving end of misfortune, Atem and Awan strove to give back to their community; thus the SSHCO was founded with only a $25 deposit in the bank and a passion for helping those in need. In due time, the SSHCO was able to acquire an $800,000 facility, completely funded through donations. The facility served 3,000 people a month and raised enough funds to supply the clinic with pharmaceuticals and medical staff until it was forced to close due to threats from the civil war. The clinic was ultimately reopened due to the partnership with IMA World Health who contributed by paying salaries to the health workers and the government of South Sudan who will provide the medications to the clinic. Since its creation, the health care clinic has delivered respectable levels of healthcare to the people of Maar and the surrounding area for the first time. For less than $5 per patient, SSHCO has provided hundreds of people with a better life.