As South Sudan approaches its 14th anniversary since independence (9 July), children in Mundri County, supported by their local faith and community leaders, are finding renewed hope amidst the growing humanitarian crisis in South Sudan exacerbated by funding shortfall. After taking part in Tearfund’s Transforming Communities training, the community decided to choose hope by equipping themselves with education and a positive vision of what their country can be.
With over 7 million people currently without sufficient food, thousands more displaced by violence, and climate-related disasters such as flooding, South Sudan is tackling poverty and conflict with ever dwindling humanitarian funds, as well as a cholera outbreak in some parts of the country.
At the same time, the world’s youngest country also holds incredible untapped potential. With peace, stability and good governance, its vast arable land could transform livelihoods and improve food security. But, the country’s greatest asset is its youth: more than 8.5 million young people represent a powerful force for peace and prosperity if adequately supported. It’s this human resource that the Christian international development charity, Tearfund, is investing in alongside church partners.
Tearfund works with the church because churches know the needs of their communities and how best to respond with the resources available to them. Churches are often the first to respond and will continue to serve the community in practical ways before, during and after a crisis.
Emmanuel George Ali, 42, recently took part in Tearfund’s Transforming Communities training, which focuses on supporting facilitators to analyse their community’s needs and view themselves as agents of change.
“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,” says Emmanuel.
The training inspired a mindset shift among community members in the remote village of Mundri, in Western Equatoria.
“Children faced significant challenges accessing education due to the lack of nearby schools and infrastructure. Many children were walking several kilometres through difficult and dangerous terrain to reach the nearest school. This was the reason that most of our children had no basic literacy and numeracy skills.”
“We decided to establish a nursery and primary school in Mundri. Among us, some were trained teachers, so we pooled resources – both human and financial – and sought support from the local church, parents and other community members.”
Tearfund’s Country Director for South Sudan, Erickson Bisetsa, explained:
“The community-led initiative was rooted in the belief that every child deserved access to quality education regardless of their circumstances. With limited funds but abundant determination, the community constructed what is now known as the Teacher’s Union Nursery and Primary school. Simple makeshift classrooms were constructed using locally available materials such as bamboo, mud bricks, thatch and used iron sheets. The school started with just a few classes but quickly grew as more families enrolled their children. Currently the school boasts nearly 600 learners in both nursery and primary school and 17 teachers, all supported by the community.”
“The school is a spring of hope and also offers adult literacy programmes, benefiting the wider community and economy, but perhaps the most important impact is the level of social cohesion that the project has had, bringing people from different backgrounds together to work collectively towards a common goal.”
Pastor Charles Ruben, 71, an elder in the Sudan Pentecostal Church in Mundri and a Transforming Communities enthusiast, believes the school demonstrates how knowledgeable communities can achieve great things and transform themselves together.
“This school is a lifetime investment and forever the children of this community will always have a learning space,” says Pastor Ruben.
To ensure sustainability, the teachers are now implementing small income-generating activities such as farming projects and Village Savings and Loan Association activities. Additionally, they have partnered with local organisations for teacher training programs aimed at improving instructional quality. This grassroots initiative demonstrated how communities could transform themselves when equipped with knowledge and tools like those provided through Tearfund’s Transforming Communities programme.
For further information or interview requests with Erickson Bisetsa call Esther Trewinnard on 07783 409045 or for out of hours media enquiries please call 07929 339813.
Notes to Editors
- Tearfund has launched an Urgent Appeal to help support church partners who are responding in the face of growing needs and often forgotten crises in countries like South Sudan. To donate or find out more please visit: www.tearfund.org/urgentappeal.
- Transforming Communities training is designed to empower communities by helping them identify their challenges and mobilise local resources to address them. The training emphasises self-reliance, collaboration and sustainable development.
- Tearfund is working through local churches in South Sudan supporting both people fleeing Sudan and their host communities. Since April 2023, 1.1 million Sudanese refugees and South Sudanese refugee returnees have crossed the border back into South Sudan.
- Tearfund have been providing food, and life skills which help people find new sources of income to help support them and their families, supporting malnourished children and their mothers, and helping conflict-affected communities access clean water and adequate sanitation.
Tearfund is a Christian charity that partners with churches in more than 50 of the world’s poorest countries. We tackle poverty through sustainable development, responding to disasters and challenging injustice. We believe an end to extreme poverty is possible. Tearfund is also a member of the Disasters Emergency Committee. For more information about the work of Tearfund, please visit www.tearfund.org.
