Appeal in Lancaster Guardian helps teenage girls in war-torn South Sudan

An appeal in the Lancaster Guardian earlier this month to help teenage girls in South Sudan is already having a major impact in the deep south of the country.
Carolyn Murray with some of the children she has helped in South Sudan.Carolyn Murray with some of the children she has helped in South Sudan.
Carolyn Murray with some of the children she has helped in South Sudan.

Carolyn Murray’s appeal is for funds to run an educational project aimed at helping teenage girls in Yei (pronounced Yay) so that they did not have to sell themselves to pay for soap and food for their families as a result of the Covid-19 epidemic.

As we reported on July 6 the project has been pioneered by Malish Simon Lo Thomas, head teacher of Immanuel Kindergarten in Yei which Carolyn has supported for many years.

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Malish was delighted that all the 30 girls invited to attend the first five-day workshop turned up.

Students receiving soap as they leave a workshop.Students receiving soap as they leave a workshop.
Students receiving soap as they leave a workshop.

Thanks to the donations received by the Immanuel Kindergarten charity it was then possible to hold a workshop for teenage boys.

Malish said: “All the girls and boys are really very happy with the training and they said ‘let this kind of awareness continue’.

“They are really thankful with the administration of Immanuel Kindergarten and all those who are supporting the school.”

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At the end of each day of the workshops some of the students helped to create a radio drama which was broadcast in Yei and other parts of South Sudan, as well as three awareness radio talk shows.

“It is a really good programme and it will keep the girls and boys very busy,” said Malish.

Other head teachers are now asking Malish to organise more training sessions but he has warned them that additional funds will be needed to extend the project until the end of the year.

He added, however, that thanks to the support from the charity 300 girls and boys from 20 schools in Yei will be able to attend workshops.

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The donations pay for meals at the workshops and stationery materials. But most of all, especially as part of the training during the workshops is about Covid-19, each student receives a bar of five pieces of soap to take home afterwards.

Carolyn stated: “The feedback has been very positive from the students. Basically, I think it’s someone taking notice of them and caring.”

Donations can be made online here

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