By Ray Stranske | Board Chair
Let’s celebrate! Eight high school girls, who have been in the Project Education South Sudan scholarship program over the years, just took their national graduation exams. They will soon find out how they scored, but all are confident they did well. All of these promising young women want to go on to university to pursue their goal of taking on a leadership position in this youngest of nations. The fact is that their ongoing study is dependent on securing financial support for this next big educational step, and for most of these bright graduates the financial support for university is a puzzle not yet solved.
Almost none of the recent news from South Sudan has been uplifting. The area where our program operates is in an island of relative stability surrounded by a sea of chaos. South Sudan is entering its fourth year of civil war, a period of strife that started less than three years after its promising celebration of independence. The long lasting conflict, along with routine government corruption, has produced an environment in which the development of societal infrastructure languishes. The tasks of daily life take courage and ingenuity. And now, famine is gripping many areas of South Sudan and whole populations are fleeing their homelands, migrating to massive refugee camps in bordering countries like Uganda.
All of this makes us wonder, why do teachers teach, and students learn, and why are young people still filled with optimism about the future with so much to worry about? We are amazed at the resilience of our friends in South Sudan. Listen to some of these recent comments from students we support:
Anna, a graduating student who just took her national exams (and plans to become a doctor) says: "I want to achieve education which is what I have been longing for since I was a child. I want to make my dreams come true because my parents, community, nation, and our people have hope in me."
Achol , a third-year high school student says: "I’m very sure women are intelligent and active in everything. Women are trustworthy and they can be good presidents, ministers, lawyers, and doctors, among other things."
Nyankot a second-year high school student says: "I’m confident that I will follow my education and teach my community and give back to the community through teaching good ethics, and narrow the gap between genders in South Sudan. There is a saying 'You educate a girl you educate a nation'. Of course educated women are more considered in this world now, and that’s why I feel more confidence about what I am going do in my community."
When you give to Project Education South Sudan, your support goes straight to these young women and the programs that support their education and preparation for future leadership. This is because we have no paid staff in the US. We all work as volunteers, so the valuable gifts you send can go to South Sudan where they are so greatly appreciated. THANK YOU!
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