WTI receives funding from UNICEF to help children in South Sudan back to school following Covid-19 school closures

The Back to Learning Campaign sees Windle Trust International working closely with the government in South Sudan and other partners to mobilise communities and school children after 14 months of school closures.

Windle Trust International (WTI) has received funding from UNICEF to join the government and other partners to mobilize communities and school children to go back to school after 14 months of school closure due to the covid-19 pandemic.  

During the General Education Annual Review (GEAR) conference in Juba in mid-April 2021, the 13 State Ministers of education including Abyei, Pibor and Ruweng Administrative Areas in attendance led by Hon. Deng Awut Achuil, the Republic of South Sudan Minister Education, decided that all schools in South Sudan should re-open on 3rd May 2021.   

The main reason for the decision was the devastating impact of schools closure on school children especially girls and the potential loss of gains made in the sector over the years. The UNICEF Country Representative in South Sudan, Dr. Hamida Lasseko, reiterated UNICEF’s commitment to supporting the education sector in particular the Ministry of General Education and Instruction (MoGEI) in its effort to provide education to the children of South Sudan. 

With the announcement to re-open schools, UNICEF has partnered with WTI to implement a “Community Education Resilience” programme in urban areas of three States of Central Equatoria, Eastern Equatoria and Western Equatoria in South Sudan. The support includes Back To Learning Campaign to mobilise the community and children to return to school, training of teachers, training of Parent Teachers Associations (PTA), provision of in-kind school supplies and support for peacebuilding, child-protection and life skills through peace clubs in schools.  

These efforts are geared towards increasing access and bringing back those learners, boys and girls who had dropped out of school due to the covid-19 related challenges and to enrol those who had never stepped in school before. 

Click here to find out more about the successful campaign strategies WTI has developed and is implementing on the project.