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South Sudan: Education
South Sudan: Education for the Future – Schools and Children’s Home
Education is the key to a better life – particularly in a poor country like South Sudan. The Presbyterian Church of South Sudan (PCOSS) is campaigning to allow as many children as possible to take their opportunity and go to school.
South Sudan is one of the least developed countries in Africa. Only about a third of its 13 million inhabitants can read and write. That rate is even lower among women and girls. A lack of schools, teachers and teaching materials mean the level of education is extremely low. Church institutions are striving to maintain school operations in very difficult conditions. One such institution is the Presbyterian Church of South Sudan (PCOSS), a partner church of the Basel Mission German Branch.
Better lessons make learning more fun
The PCOSS renovates classrooms and ensures that schools have sanitary facilities and clean drinking water. For teachers, the church provides further education in didactics, child psychology and school administration. This improves the standard of teaching in schools – and with it the level of education. This, in turn, allows children to enjoy learning again. Thanks to psychological training, teachers are able to help their protégés to cope with traumatic experiences of war and violence.
South Sudan
13.34 million inhabitants, of which 7 million are under 19 years of age
Schools provide areas of peace
The civil war, which has been ongoing since 2013, has denied many girls and boys the opportunity to attend school. Children living on the streets without any form of support are at particularly high risk of being recruited as child soldiers by the military. The PCOSS runs a children’s home, which offers children at this kind of risk refuge, education and psychosocial support. According to the United Nations, 18,000 child soldiers have been recruited in the last four years. Their experiences of war often leave these children deeply traumatised. Former child soldiers and street children find a new home at the “Muhabba Centre” children’s home, which is run by the PCOSS. They are given accommodation, food, an education, and psychological support.
Project goals
The educational work of the Presbyterian Church of South Sudan (PCOSS) aims to offer children safe and protected places to learn. At the same time, it is also making an important contribution to the fight against illiteracy and poverty. In the long term, it allows children to shape their own future actively and independently. Psychosocial support and peace work are paramount.
Project work
The Presbyterian Church of South Sudan (PCOSS) is establishing schools in the country as “zones of peace”. It renovates classrooms, installs new sanitary facilities, and trains teachers. In doing so, it is improving primary and secondary schools and raising the level of education in South Sudan. Street children and former child soldiers find a new home at the “Muhabba Centre” children’s home. They receive protection, food and an education. Qualified teachers also help them to process their traumatic experiences.
Project partner
The Presbyterian Relief and Development Agency (PRDA) is the independent development department of the Presbyterian Church of South Sudan. It is responsible for emergency aid and development cooperation projects. The focus is on agriculture, health and education. Through mission 21, the Basel Mission German Branch is supporting the work of the church, in cooperation with the Evangelical Mission in Solidarity.
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