South Sudan is expansive and largely rural with 83 percent of the population residing in rural areas. Poverty is endemic with at least 80 percent of the population defined as income-poor and living on an equivalent of less than $1 per day. More than one third of the population lacks secure access to food.
The country gained its independence from Sudan in 2011 but is facing an ongoing civil war that started in December 2013 and has resulted in a dire humanitarian crisis. Responding to the ongoing civil strife is nothing new to Salesian missionaries in the country. They have been continuing their educational and social development programs in communities across the country while also responding to the ongoing humanitarian crisis.
The One Hundred Village Schools project launched in South Sudan in 2012 by the Salesian missionary office Don Bosco Nanum, based in Seoul, South Korea, has been a great success. To date, 74 elementary schools have been built and nearly 15,000 children have been impacted. These children are now engaged in education and gaining the foundational skills needed for higher learning.
The project was inspired by two visionary Italian Salesian missionaries, Father Vincenzo Donati and Salesian Brother Giacomo (Jim) Comino. After many years of missionary work in South Korea, both were assigned to the East Africa Province in 1981 and 1992, respectively. Initially many doubted the feasibility of such a large educational project, but their vision was welcomed with enthusiasm by many people, including the then Provincial of East Africa, Father Gianni Rolandi, and Father Pascual Chávez, then rector major.
The 74 new schools each have four classrooms and were made possible thanks to the generosity of many donors. One of those donors was South Korean Olympic gold medalist Yuna Kim who donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to the project. The funding donated was able to build one entire school. Other donors from around the globe, including those from Korea, Italy, Austria, Germany and the United States, made the schools project a success.
From South Sudan
From South Sudan
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