Dear Friends, 

 

In the wake of the devastating violence in South Sudan, we at PESS could not be happier that Daniel has found ten of our girl students on his field assessment in Bor!  The girls are unharmed and more eager than ever to continue their education. 

 

New to our girls' sponsorship program is Abuk, a former PESS Tong Pagook Primary School student, who will continue at Malek Academy in the third form, explains that she is eager to sit her exit examinations this June.  She is the only girl to sit these examinations in her school and understands why they are important: she hopes to continue her education to realize her dreams of becoming a nurse.  Abuk will be one in only 400 girls in the whole country to graduate from secondary school.  It is not hard to see how she has achieved this monumental accomplishment; Abuk has always been an outstanding student, particularly excelling in her science classes.

 

After fleeing to Nairobi, Kenya, to escape the violence, Daniel and his family are glad to return to their home country to rebuild what has been destroyed.  Daniel knows, though, that now is not the time to relax; he has been actively monitoring and assessing the situation in South Sudan.  For now, he is happy to report good news: government offices are functioning again, people are coming back to the city, and, best of all, schools are reopening!  Daniel has been able to confirm that Malek Academy and Langbaar Modern Secondary will open its doors in a few weeks; we are still awaiting confirmation for Bor College High. 

 

Daniel remains cautiously optimistic about the overall situation.  While shaken by the violence, looting, and destruction of property, he declares that he is "determined to forget all the lost items and move forward."

 

Daniel, along with the rest of us at PESS, want to thank She's the First, Global Giving Girl Effect, and all of our other amazing sponsors for the support during this difficult time.  You are bringing HOPE and EDUCATION to the future leaders of South Sudan!