Wedweil Schools

The new Government of South Sudan inherited a country with very little education infrastructure and an acute shortage of qualified teachers. Infrastructure is shockingly inadequate across South Sudan but is even worse in the war ravaged and largely neglected north western corner of the country.

indigo’s partnership grew from a relationship in Australia with Santino Yuot, a former refugee and leader of the South Sudanese community in Australia, to support a school renovation project in Santino’s home village of Wedweil in Aweil State, South Sudan. Like many refugees living in Australia, Santino and the organisation he founded and represents, the Dinka Literacy Association, cared deeply about their community back home.

Wedweil faced staggering challenges. Infrastructure in Aweil State had not been rebuilt since the previous civil war, and 92% of its people lived below the poverty line. Many people had never experienced proper schooling.

The school in Wedweil was built prior to 1965 and was badly damaged during the war. It had no roof and the local community had gathered grass and tree branches to create some protection. But it was not enough to keep the school going in hot and rainy weather. In 2015, indigo foundation funded a new roof, which meant that students were able to learn in all weather.

In 2016, we worked with Santino and the community to organise the first teacher-training in the area for 10 teachers from Wedweil School and 15 teachers from surrounding schools. We also supported the building of the first toilets for the school, including a separate female toilet which is a big factor in families deciding to send their girls to school.

School numbers increased from 400 to 500 children and young people who dropped out of school at the height of the conflict returned to finish their schooling. In recognition of the improvements to the school, the teaching and enrolments, the government converted the school to the first Secondary School in the area.

In 2017 we worked with the community, the South Sudanese Ministry of Education and the World Food Program to launch a three year teacher training program for over 60 teachers from three states. 60 teachers graduated from the training in 2018 and 135 teachers graduated in 2019.

We also rebuilt and improved infrastructure of the Wedweil School, including establishing clean water supply in 2018, erecting a fence around the school and establishing a cooperative garden on school grounds – a key community priority giving looming famine in South Sudan and the fact that the majority of students and teachers arrive to school hungry.