Educating Girl Groups in South Sudan

How does a young girl like Amama become involved with a group like Girls With Books!? Let me share her story which highlights the impact your generosity has on the lives of South Sudanese girls. In 2017 Dr. Lawrence Wongo (GWB! Board member) and I interviewed prospective students at the Bidi Bidi refugee camp in Northern Uganda. Amama, a sweet 9-year-old girl stood, quietly observing as we spoke to older girls nearby. She didn't understand what we were discussing, but her curiosity was evident. Later, when I visited her tukul (a traditional hut), I found her alone, too shy to respond to my greeting. I asked her where her parents were. She said her mother had gone to fetch water, and she wasn’t sure where her father was. I then asked if she was in school, and she softly replied, “No, I am not in school.” Why are you not in school I asked, but she did not answer. I followed up by asking if she wanted to attend, to which she eagerly said, “Yes, I want to go to school!” When I asked why, she simply answered, “Because I want to learn and play with my friends.”

Moved by her quiet determination, we added Amama to the list of girls to receive educational support through Girls With Books! Amama, like so many girls, longed for a childhood filled with learning and friendships. Today, she is thriving and preparing for Uganda’s Primary Leaving Examination (PLE), an essential milestone that marks the completion of primary education. With dreams of becoming a nurse, she is already thinking about how she can give back to her community and be a leader in South Sudan.

At Girls With Books!, our mission is to ensure that girls like Amama have the chance to attend school, receive a quality education, and feel safe in their learning environment. We aim to equip them with the knowledge and skills to compete in the workforce, develop critical life skills to adapt to a changing world, make empowered decisions about their futures, and contribute meaningfully to their families, communities, and the world.

Amama’s story demonstrates the profound impact that your financial support makes. With that support, we are able to change the future for girls in South Sudan and in the refugee camps in Northern Uganda. Here is how your support will help us reach our 2024 budget of $200,000. The average cost per student for a year of education is $1,000. This helps us pay for tuition, room, and board, bedding & dormitory supplies, clothing, and when needed, transportation to and from school during school breaks.

You have my deepest gratitude for your ongoing financial support, which has enabled us to make significant progress, during this year, toward our mission of educating young girls, and preparing them to take leadership in their communities and in their country in a few short years. THANK YOU!

With Gratitude,

Micklina Kenyi

Executive Director