Ariang School Today (Present)
Ariang School is now educating over 650 students. Today, there are nearly equal numbers of boys and girls at the school, a drastic increase from just 50 girls when the school first started. HOPE for Ariang’s work is now focused on establishing Ariang Primary School as an exemplary school in the region with quality instruction and learning. We are currently focused on training our teachers as well as providing ongoing infrastructure support such as uniforms, classroom materials, sports and club equipment, and constructing a perimeter fence. A school is more than a building! With Ariang Primary School building completed, HOPE for Ariang Foundation’s real work has just begun. Quality education requires so much more than bricks and mortar or school building. Educational excellence is determined by quality instruction, effective administration, and availability of relevant instructional materials. Our Dream for Ariang School: Education in the shadow of the civil way requires a holistic approach. Our vision if for Ariang School to become a center for community development. It can serve as a hub for community dialogue, as well as mobilization for addressing other social, economic and health issues. Starting in 2013, we started providing stable, nutritious meals for the children which are supplemented by the World Food Program. Our hope is to add a school-based health clinic with a school nurse and health educator to teach and promote basic hygiene and sanitation in the school. All school children would receive vaccinations and weekly recreational opportunities. Because of the prolonged war, a generation of South Sudanese adults was deprived of basic education in their youth. Therefore, our vision is to provide adult education in order to develop the village. Adults in the community would have the opportunity to attend classes in the evening and learn skills in tailoring, masonry, and basic computer skills. Lastly, we recognize the need for a Secondary School. When our students graduate from Ariang Primary School, there are limited Secondary School options for them. The closest school is a long walking distance, overcrowded, and lacks qualified teachers. Our vision is to establish Ariang Secondary School so that we can ensure that our students receive a quality education all the way through Grade 12!