United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS)-funded secondary school in Kediba brings joy to communities, especially girls – African Business

“I am overjoyed to be able to continue my higher education,” said 17-year-old Hediya Wilfred Surur. “I need to support my aging parents and further education will definitely help me get a good job,” she added enthusiastically.

Hediya was speaking at the handover of a meaningful Quick Impact Project in Mundri, Western Equatoria—a newly built secondary school, funded by the United Nations Mission in South Sudan.

Students in remote Kediba, a part of Mundri county, no longer need to travel long distances to the nearest public school or relocate to the country’s capital Juba for a quality education.

This development has also given parents cause to celebrate.

“As mothers we were worried about our children’s future,” revealed Zenobia Emmanuel, a parent. “We had to send them away from home to nearby counties such as Mundri or Maridi, or even as far off as Juba for a quality education. We were always anxious about them. But now, with this school, we have the opportunity to educate our children without robbing them of a stable parental presence at home,” she added happily.

These testimonies are meaningful and heartening for Thomas Bazawi, a UNMISS Protection, Transition and Reintegration Section programme assistant.

“Our aim, through the QIPs programme, is to address urgent public needs through small-scale infrastructural interventions that have a massive impact on improving the lives of community members. This school is an example of how to do it right. We hope that Kediba residents will manage the school well; UNMISS is always here to provide them with additional support, should they need it,” he averred.

Mr. Bazawi thanked local authorities for supporting the project. It was implemented by COPE, a local partner Community Organization for Peer Education.

The school is expected to increase literacy and encourage ex-dropouts to return to school.

Another benefit is that girls have equal learning opportunities.  

“As community members, it’s our duty to to make the most use of this conducive learning facility and increase enrollment of girls to counter harmful traditional practices such as early or forced marriages,” said Fozia Margaret, County Commissioner, Mundri East.

“I advise parents to think of education as power because when girls and boys are equally educated, they have the power to build a stable and secure South Sudan,” she added.

The new Kediba secondary schools consists of a block of four classrooms, each designed to accommodate approximately 200 students.

Distributed by APO Group for United Nations Mission in South Sudan.