By Ray Stranske | Board Chair
It’s Bortown, a town of about 400,000, in South Sudan. The new school year started last month, and many students have come into town from their home villages and will live with friends or relatives for the 3-month long school term. A highlight for some of these students is gathering on weekends or after school at the Project Education South Sudan (PESS) office for mutual support, discussion, and mentoring from the PESS staff. They discuss world issues, as well as qualities they admire in their favorite local leaders. PESS is harnessing the power of community by organizing girls into girl groups – a group of about 10 girls who support each other in their daily challenges of school and home.
Meet one of the girl groups – 11 girls attending 6 different high schools in Bortown (pictured here). Many wear the uniform of their school, making for a colorful gathering. This group named themselves the Peace Group. Their reason: “We name our girls’ group like that because our country has been in war and this is affecting our education as girls in general. Currently our government has signed peace and we girls need to spread peace in our schools, beginning among us students and extended into the communities and to our neighbors. Peace is good, when people live in peace life become meaningful.”
After school, or on weekends, when they meet, the group is working on articles for a Girl Gazette. Learning how to write a news story will be a first for many of them. In the future, you may hear some of their stories, so stay tuned. Each of them deeply appreciates your participation in their educational success. You would be amazed at their enthusiasm to learn. By giving to PESS through GlobalGiving, you are supporting these talented young women, aspiring to become wise and competent leaders in their community. Thank you. Your gift helps the Peace Group students stay in school and prepare for the future.
Would you like to participate at a deeper level? Consider becoming a regular part of one of these girl groups, by making a monthly gift of $35. If you let us know your intent, we will help you set up a regular gift and will send you updates on that group's progress.
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