Weaving the future with the threads of education and hope
There is nearly an equal ratio of boys to girls in all our Ariang Network of Schools. Primary education has become more affordable and accessible to both girls and boys. HOPE for Ariang is reaching over 2,500 students through the Ariang Network of Schools program.
#2
Photos that tell good stories ~ Ariang School
More kids are enrolling in school at the right age. This is important in helping the kids to adopt a good school culture and feel it more ingrained in them. Young kids are more receptive to teachers’ advice and this has the potential to increase their chances of staying in school until they graduate. In South Sudan, barriers that prevent kids from staying in school (or focusing on education) tend to increase as kids grow older (especially girls).
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Photos that tell good stories ~ Mading School
Over 90% of the students in the Ariang Network of Schools now have good school uniforms and shoes. Uniforms and shoes have restored the dignity of the students and this has made education more equitable by reducing socioeconomic disparities amongst the students.
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Photos that tell good stories ~ Women Empowerment Program
We received another grant to make 570 pairs of uniforms for the Mading School (the school under a collection of trees in an open field). In the photo is mama Akuach (our WEP graduate) at her tailoring workshop. She is leading the uniform-making project and her quality of work is incredibly spot on.
#5
Photos That Tell Good Stories ~ Scholars Empowerment Program
Monica (left) and Regina (right): These two are among the group of Scholars that joined our high school sponsorship program in 2018. Monica is graduating high school this year while Regina will graduate a year after Monica.
Where there is will there is a way!
How does this impact story make you feel?
Leave us a comment in the section below:
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We have remained steadfast in supporting our Ariang Network of Schools with learning resources, teacher development opportunities, school management efforts, and the development of internal school leadership capacities.
In the last 10 years, the quality of education at all Ariang Network of Schools has gone up. Teachers have become more focused and objective in teaching and the students have embraced education even more.
What Are The Indicators?
Recently, we have seen increased re-enrollments from students that dropped out of school. They tell us that they have re-evaluated their life goals and have realized the importance of education in achieving the goals. This is a noble decision that many students continue to make and a powerful indicator that a positive change is happening.
Some young students of Ariang School.
Our Ariang Network of schools population is 2,500. When we started, Ariang School for example had less than 100 students and had the highest student population amongst our 3 schools.
394 students have now graduated from our Ariang Network of Schools since 2011.
The number of students graduating from our school has doubled in just 10 years.
Daily average attendance of students has continued to improve each year. This is a powerful indicator that our school culture is improving.
The number of students transitioning to secondary school has continued to increase for both boys and girls. More and more parents/guardians have realized how vital it is for their kids to receive the highest level of education and are now getting more supportive.
The gender distribution amongst students is now nearly 1 to 1 – a significant improvement from 1 to 4 (girls to boys) in 2011. This is commendable and worth a celebration and a powerful indicator that our effort to reduce barriers that limit girls to stay in school is paying off.
Kids dropping out of school is one of the biggest challenges schools face across South Sudan. We work to mitigate this challenge and we are happy to report that our intervention is working but there is still a lot of work to be done.
Some students of Mading School. A school we support through our Ariang Network of Schools.
Each $10 = 1 year school supplies for one kid. We have a total of over 2,505 kids that we are supporting. Every dollar counts!! Support this program with books and other supplies.
Our 2020 Cohort Graduated | And Performed Exceptionally Well
A section of our 2020 cohort a few minutes before entering the exam room. All ready and equipped with knowledge. They did well.
Our 2020 cohort performed incredibly well in their national exams. All 47 passed and pushed the percentage up by 3.80% compared to previous year. See a detailed performance here.
We welcome you to add to the impact by supporting our teachers to receive more training or a salary supplement. Teachers get as low as $25/month in South Sudan. Make you impact here.
Or Follow the donate button above or send a check to the address below. NOTE: We changed our mailing address, please use the information below to update your file.:
HOPE for Ariang Foundation,
P.O BOX 569,
Syracuse, NY, 13214.
Use this information to send a check or for inquiries.
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The uniforms project is 100% complete. A total of 24,342 student items (uniforms, supplementary items, and shoes) were made and distributed to our 3 schools through our Ariang Network of Schools – this impact reached 2,505 and transformed their school life in many ways. This particular project was 100% funded by Tailored for Education.
Below is a summary of items distributed and their impact in the community.
Summary of items procured and distributed
Impact of the project to the community of Ariang
The schools reached by this project include Ariang School, Nyieth School, and Mading School. We would like to feature Mading School because it has a unique set of challenges.
Mading School | The School Under A Collection Of Trees
Mading Classroom Setting
Mading Primary School is a makeshift school where all teaching and learning for over 565 students [current student population] and sixteen members of the teaching staff happen under a collection of trees in a cleared field. The school doesn’t have a single structure and classrooms are simple chalkboards propped up against a tree while students huddle around on the ground and write from their laps.
The Weather Determines Learning
The school administration and the teaching staff explained to us that extreme weather conditions such as rains, sand storms, scorching afternoon sun, and warm breezes usually bring learning to a standstill for days, weeks, and sometimes, for months.
Students Sit On Rocks and Tree Roots To Recieve Instructions
Students Sitting On Tree Roots
When the weather is favorable, students of Mading School walk through grasslands, dusty/bare grounds, and soaked fields depending on the season to reach the school. The school does not have a good road accessing it – only footpaths made by grazing animals and people. Upon reaching the school, the students sit on rocks and tree roots to receive instructions. Students endure ‘the scorching sun of South Sudan’ when trees shed their leaves and younger students are usually advised to stay at home during these times.
Challenges and Socio-economic Disparities
Mading School is located at the heart of the poorest village in Ariang. The majority of students do not have school uniforms or shoes and they put on whatever clothes they have. Socio-economic disparaties are easily noteceable when you look around. These disparities bring in, many forms of educational inequalities and social stigma to the students. This uniforms project filled many of these gaps in addition to the impact stories highlighted above
Our Dream For Mading School
Our wish and dream is to build proper school infrastructures but we often have financial shortfalls considering that our organization is young. Here is a short vision we wrote for this school but we haven’t been able to raise enough funds to make it a reality.
Seeking Support For This School
Any support or connections to organizations or international governments that fund these types of projects is highly welcomed. Together we can build this school one classroom at a time through our collective effort. The benefits will be great, lasting, and impactful.
We welcome you to support the kids of Mading School by making a donation of any amount. Every $10 supports one kid with one year school supplies. This is the first postitive step in the direction of making education more accessible to kids of South Sudan.
Checks donation can be sent to:
HOPE for Ariang Foundation
P.O BOX 569,
Syracuse, NY, 13214
https://hopeforariang.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/11760-Underwear-Bought-1.jpg10801080Hope for Ariang Foundationhttps://hopeforariang.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Copy-of-Our-New-HOPE_logo_cropped-1030x639.jpgHope for Ariang Foundation2021-10-12 12:15:132021-10-15 08:53:16The Impact of The Uniforms Project
Bany Akolda Achievements and The Story Of Roda – An Exceptionally Talented Young Girl of SEP
What is Bany Akolda?
Bany Akolda is Dinka for leaders of tomorrow. It is a leadership training that aims at enabling our SEP Scholars to develop ethical leadership, and proactive management skills. Also many young people do not have many career options. They know of medical, teaching, engineering, and aviation professions. We explore more professions and leverageable techonologies to help our Scholars increase their knowledge of the ever-changing world.
Why Is Bany Akolda Important?
Curious what this leadership training comprises, why it is important, and what change it will bring to the people of Ariang? Well! The training helps the students to develop 21st century skills including problem solving, critical thinking, determination, decision making, resilience, and more. We read books, analyze major themes and character traits of the books’ characters, then we pause and see how those fit in the context of Ariang and South Sudan.
Has this been useful? YES! | What are the indicators?
Our Scholars are now able to identify some challenges facing the community, figure out a low-cost solution, come up with possible intervention strategies, and push them forward (with some support from HOPE).
Any Clear Examples? YES!
Covid Training Project in 2020
Inspired by some of the lessons from the book ‘A Long Walk To Water’ By Linda Sue Park, Our Scholars led a COVID-19 awareness and preventative measures training in 2020. They set up hand washing stations at strategic points in all the 6 villages of Ariang and managed them effectively. They developed a training curriculum in their local language to ensure all members of the community understood all basic precautionary measures of the world’s new threat ‘-COVID-19’. This training was impactful and reached 790 households – close to 7,000 people of Ariang
The 2021/22 WASH Project
This year, we started our second book ‘The Boy Who Harnessed The Wind’ by William Kamkwamba of Malawi; and the Scholars have already mapped out a community project for 2021/22. Most families in South Sudan do not have latrines/toilets. The lack of these has been a major cause of many life-threatening illnesses especially among young children. The Scholars are developing a curriculum for training the community on the risks of lack of latrines and benefits of having one. The Scholars are strategizing a plan for constructing between 15 to 30 latrines using readily-available materials and HOPE is going to support them with a small budget for tools and iron sheets for roofing.
This project will eradicate many health challenges that come with lack of proper hygiene and sanitation. There are international organizations filling this objective but what is unique about SEP’s intervention strategy is that it is community-engineered and led and will likely influence a positive behavior change going forward.
You might remember Mary (left) and Rebecca (right). We have featured them in our past stories. This is them during the leadership training. Both were selected to lead their teams during the project timeline. Powerful upcoming female leaders. We welcome you to contribute to this community project however you can. Make a donation here or click the picture to get to PayPal
The Story Of Roda – An Exceptionally Talented Young Girl Of SEP
Click the Roda‘s picture to donate via PayPal
30th July 2021
Self Introduction (In her own words):
My name is Roda. I was born in 2000 at Maker village in Ayien Boma. I’m living with my family which consists of my father, mother, four sisters and two younger brothers. My family relies on subsistence farming for its survival since my parents are poor and uneducated.
I started my primary school education in Nyieth Primary School in 2012. As I started my primary education, things were not easy since my parents could not afford school requirements but at least they afforded little. As I proceeded with my studies in that critical time, I managed to complete class 7 in Nyieth Primary School and I was enrolled in class eight at Ariang Primary School. Surprisingly, I observed many good things which included free schooling, free exercise books, school bags, and solar lanterns. I continued my learning in class and finally sat for the South Sudan Unified Exams. I happened to be the best female student in my school.
Then I applied for HOPE for Ariang’s high school scholarship and I luckily won it. As I am being sponsored for secondary school education, I am very grateful for it because it is a great gift that I never dreamed of and I’m very inspired to do better in school. I want to be a doctor to help people with various diseases in the years to come in my community and South Sudan in general. I am very thankful to Gabriel who founded HOPE for Ariang organization and I am grateful to madam Liz Deng for encouraging us to stay in school. Special thanks to supporters of SEP for paying secondary school fees for me and other SEP Scholars. Thank you.
Yours Sincerely
Roda
Roda and her sibblings at their home in South Sudan.
If you are inspired to fund Roda’s or one of the 15 SEP Scholars’ education, kindly let us know and we will pair you up (Send us a note through john.gitonga@hopeforariang.org).
Only a few Scholars are paired up. Annual high school fees and supplies range between $500 and $600 ($2,000-@2,400 for all the four years) payable in one-time, annually, or monthly – in parts or in full. We can be sending you updates, letters, and pictures of your paired Scholar. (Note: Schools increased fees this year because of many adversities caused by COVID)
Everyone is welcome to make a donation to the high school fund. Our first cohort is graduating next year. This program has become a reality because of our collective effort.
To Support: Follow the donate button above or send a check to:
HOPE for Ariang Foundation
P.O BOX 569,
Syracuse, NY, 13214
https://hopeforariang.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Roda-during-BA-Leadership-Training-scaled.jpg19302560Hope for Ariang Foundationhttps://hopeforariang.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Copy-of-Our-New-HOPE_logo_cropped-1030x639.jpgHope for Ariang Foundation2021-10-07 12:07:412021-10-07 13:00:10Our SEP Scholars Are Filling Major Leadership Roles In The Community
Woo hoo! The 2020 South Sudan National Results for Primary Schools are out. HOPE for Ariang has remained steadfast in supporting Ariang Network of Schools with learning resources, teacher development opportunities, school management efforts, and the development of internal school leadership capacities.
All these efforts are paying off. The number of students graduating each year has doubled in just 10 years with a nearly equal ratio of girls to boys. Our girls continue to do better in all subjects and have been closing the gap in the mean score compared to their counterparts-the boys. This a huge and commendable impact and a clear indicator that a positive change is happening in the remotest villages of South Sudan.
These are some of the graduates moments before sitting for their national exams
We are proud of the 47 students that enrolled and stayed in school until graduation. And the exciting news is that all of them passed the exams. We congratulate them for staying strong and focused in their quest for knowledge and pursuit for excellence. Both male and female students performed very well and attained good marks. The students put on confidence, determination, and resilience to be able to stay in school and earn this big achievement.
Top Students
Our top male student is John with 410 out of 500 marks while our top female student is Bakhita with 379 out of 500 marks. Both of them have balanced performances in all the subjects. Congratulations John and Bakhita!
Overall Performance
The overall percentage increase in the mean score is 3.80% compared to 2019. The girls had a percentage increase of 0.54% while the boys had a percentage increase of 7.50% in the mean score by gender.
We witnessed a commendable improvement in Math and Social Studies but a slight decrease in English. Learning has resumed across South Sudan and our students will have the opportunity to meet, participate in debates, and English speaking competitions. These skills will help them learn more vocabularies as well as perfect their tenses and grammar.
How Can You Support?
Offer a helping hand and support these kids to build a stronger future for themselves and their families. Every $10 donated supports 1 kid with full-year school supplies.
If you would like to send a check:
HOPE for Ariang Foundation
P.O. Box 569
Syracuse, NY, 13214
Here is a quick PayPal Checkout Option or just click the button below. Create a lasting impact in the lives of the kids of remote villages of South Sudan.
Our Resolve To Unite Ariang Network of Schools
We were worried the performance would fall because of the long Covid break that interrupted learning across South Sudan for 14 months. We are happy to see the students worked hard while they were at home.
Long school vacations pose a set of challenges to our female students and we couldn’t be happier to see them resume learning and pass the exams exceptionally well.
Our goal to consolidate efforts and ensure that the leaderships of all our three schools work towards a common goal is paying off. We would like to express our gratitude to the students, teachers, and our education director for pulling together in the right direction despite the many barriers that stood in the way in 2020.
To Our Supporters
Thank you for making education more accessible in the villages of South Sudan. This achievement is your dollar at work! Thank you for choosing HOPE and continue supporting us to make this world a better place for everybody.
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