Education South Sudan Project #44921

Educating Girl Groups in South Sudan

by Girls With Books!

Project Report | May 10, 2021
Educating Girl Groups in South Sudan - May 10 2021

By Ray Stranske | Board Chair

Grace

Hope follows despair.

Grace, a graduate of the PESS education program, was recently in the office talking to Executive Director, Daniel Gai. Grace took her national exams in early 2020, right before the pandemic took over the planet. During the dark year of 2020, PESS paid for Grace to attend a six-month vocational training course emphasizing computer literacy. Computers are not available in most South Sudanese classrooms, but they are required for most good jobs in the country. After graduating from high school and vocational training, Grace got a job with Save The Children a large international aid organization. She now wants to study medicine at the local university. Grace has big plans for her life!

There is no question that 2020 was a year unlike any in recent memory. The Covid pandemic has rattled our nerves, opened wounds of division among us, outsmarted our economy, and severely sickened or even killed many of our friends and family members. We came to live with the sense that things might will never be normal again.

The people in Bortown, South Sudan, had a different, but equally desperate year. Although the coronavirus did not sicken and kill nearly as many, the pandemic destroyed the fragile economy and caused a school lockout that kept young people home for half the year (with no online learning). Even then only 8^th and 12^th graders were allowed back in school, so that they could take national tests at the end of the school year (March 2021). Furthermore, devasting floods, lasting more than six months, displaced thousands from their homes, shuttered stores and businesses, and destroyed crops.

Hope is returning, following the devasting 2020 year. Schools opened for all grades in early April. Flood waters have dissipated, and some displaced people are returning. PESS staff is gearing up to welcome students and restart tutoring, mentoring programs, and Girl groups programs. PESS did its best to keep up with students during the school lockout, getting students to come into the office to pick up personal supplies and solar lights for evening personal study. So, now that students are returning, the staff will need to fill in for those who will not be able to return, after floods and coronavirus.

The people of South Sudan are used to challenges and they do not give up easily. Grace is certainly an example of that resilient spirit. We now cheer her on as she launches into adult life. And we thank all of you for partnering with us financially as we help young women prepare for leadership tomorrow.

Graduation November 2020

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Jan 12, 2021
Educating Girl Groups in South Sudan - Jan 15 2021

By Ray Stranske | Board Chair

Anyier - 10th Grade

Schools are now beginning to reopen after being closed by Coronavirus in South Sudan last April. For now, only the 12^th year students that PESS supports have returned. They are required to take national exams soon, so the government allowed them to return to school last October so they can prepare. Other grades will reopen in March. Since there is no widespread internet available to families in homes, there has been no online learning as a substitute for in school classes. Each family is lucky to have a single cell phone to stay in touch with friends and relatives, so communication with students and their families has been difficult.

Even though schools were closed through much of the year and contact with students was limited, Daniel was able to give out personal care supplies to students who came to the office, a few at a time. He has also been able to distribute solar lights so girls could continue to study in the evenings. As students came into the office, Daniel interviewed some of them to find out how they were doing. Let me tell you about one of these students Daniel interviewed over the summer. Her name is Anyier, currently in 10^th grade, and a member of the Lion Group. Each PESS supported student is part of a girl group for camaraderie and mutual support.

Anyier shared some of her personal passions in her interview. One thing stood out: She mentioned a woman in leadership whom she admires, Amuor Pach, former Minister of Health. Anyier says the reason she admires Amuor Pach is because of her education. She goes on to say that this gives her great motivation to struggle to go further so that she can be like Amuor Pach, or maybe to hold a position higher than this hero of hers. Wow! Anyier does not want to be ordinary. She is determined to join the group of women who will change their young country for the better.

Here’s the thing though – a few years back Anyier wanted to go to school and she fully expected that her father would see her eagerness to learn and would send her to school. However, as Anyier says in her own words, “…shockingly, he chose my younger brother to go to school and I was left behind with household chores.” This outcome is not unusual in her world. What made the difference for Anyier is that PESS offered her a scholarship so that she could stay in school. How can a parent turn that down, even a parent who might favor educating sons, rather than daughters? You see, most South Sudanese families are cash-strapped and have to choose.

I hope you grasp the significance – your support is helping Anyier prepare for future leadership. Would you like to support the Lion Group with Anyier as one of its members? You can become part of a support team who each give $35 per month to provide scholarship funds and after-school support for the Lions… and Anyier. She won’t forget it!

Daniel with Lion Group - South Sudanese Scholars

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