June 2021: What We’ve Been Up To
The past few months have been busy at the Foundation! In May, we hosted our first-ever virtual fundraising event in which we raised nearly $14,000 for our schools in South Sudan. At the end of May, the Government of South Sudan opened schools to all grades across the country. We also completed a fun and impactful project funded by a grant awarded to the Foundation in 2020. Keep reading to learn more about what we've been up to!
School Openings in South Sudan
Schools in South Sudan reopened to all grades at the beginning of May. At Alok Girls' Academy, we registered 584 girls in the primary section and 189 girls in the secondary section. Marial Bai Secondary School is scheduled to open its doors in August after renovations are complete. We are excited that schools have fully re-opened and to welcome back our students and staff. We continue to ensure the safety of our students and staff through safe hygiene practices and handwashing. Stay tuned for more updates as the school year continues!
Bridging the Media Divide in South Sudan
In December 2020, the VAD Foundation was awarded a grant from Internews, an NGO that focuses on supporting local media for displaced communities and refugees in South Sudan. The grant award was aimed to reach and train 415 youth in media and performance to help share news and current events throughout the Bhar el Ghazal region of South Sudan. At the end of May, we wrapped up the project and successfully engaged 415 youth in 30 school-based programs in developing plays revolving around gender-based violence, public health, substance abuse, conflict resolution, and civic responsibility and engagement. 45 youth from this group further trained in camerawork, video editing, scriptwriting, and other skills to help them produce films locally and tell stories to their communities, and 15 youth leaders were trained in project planning and management and will be working with the Foundation staff over the next year. We are thrilled to have been a part of this incredible work and helping to bridge the media divide in South Sudan!
Ways to Support Our Work
Shop AmazonSmile: You can support educational opportunities in South Sudan by shopping on Amazon. Log in at Smile.Amazon.com with your regular Amazon login. Select The VAD Foundation as your charity of choice and Amazon will donate .05% of all your purchases. Today is Amazon Prime Day so you can shop great deals and support a great cause! Click here to start.
Host a Fundraiser: You can help us bring lasting change to South Sudan with a donation, and you can magnify that impact by creating a fundraiser. Have fun with family and friends while raising money for a great cause. Simply choose your event, customize your page, and share it with friends and family. Click here to learn more.
