(Photo: Rosemary Wilfred / Tearfund)
In a country emerging from the shadows of its nascent independence, a remarkable grassroots initiative in South Sudan is reshaping the future through the power of education.
In Mundri County, a region beset by formidable humanitarian challenges, local church and community leaders have spearheaded a school project to empower the youth and build a brighter future. This initiative is a direct result of the Transforming Communities training program spearheaded by the Christian charity, Tearfund.
After participating in this program, community members were inspired to take action, leading to the establishment of a school to overcome the hurdles children face in accessing education.
Emmanuel George Ali, a local leader aged 42, who participated in the Tearfund training, remarked, “The training was like an awakening for what we can potentially do. We realised that instead of waiting for donors to come and solve our problems here, the solution to our problems lies within us. It was time to stand up and do something.”
He explained the significant challenges children faced due to the absence of nearby schools, forcing them to trek long distances through hazardous terrain, resulting in a lack of basic literacy and numeracy skills.
Determined to change this, the community established a nursery and primary school in Mundri, leveraging their trained teachers and pooling both human and financial resources, with support from the local church and parents.
Constructed from mud bricks, bamboo, and thatch, the Teacher’s Union Nursery and Primary School now educates nearly 600 students with 17 teachers, all community-supported.
Erickson Bisetsa, Tearfund’s South Sudan Country Director, described the school as “a spring of hope” for both children and adults.
Beyond providing formal education, the school offers adult literacy classes and has fostered unity among diverse community members.
Pastor Charles Ruben, 71, of the Sudan Pentecostal Church in Mundri, stated, “This school is a lifetime investment and forever the children of this community will always have a learning space.”
South Sudan, the world’s youngest nation, faces myriad challenges with over 7 million people affected by food insecurity, compounded by floods, conflict, poverty, and disease outbreaks, including a recent cholera surge.
However, experts highlight the potential of South Sudan’s youth, over 8.5 million strong, as a catalyst for peace and prosperity if adequately supported.
To sustain the school initiative, local teachers have initiated small farming ventures and savings groups like the Village Savings and Loan Association.
Partnerships have also been formed with local groups for teacher training, aimed at enhancing educational quality.
In light of escalating needs, Tearfund has made an urgent appeal for aid to support its church partners throughout South Sudan and other crisis-stricken areas.
This article was originally written by www.christiantoday.com
