VAD Foundation

The worst effect of the civil war in South Sudan has been on the children, who—after witnessing so many atrocities—now have very limited access to quality education. Girls especially have few opportunities for education. For adults who missed out on their education during the civil war, there are no ways to obtain vocational training. Where schools do exist, they are usually lacking in resources. Many schools consist of just students and a teacher sitting under a tree. Materials and academic supplies—not to mention trained teachers—are scarce. Now, due to the continued unrest within the country, many schools and health facilities have closed, and about 2 million people have been displaced since December 2013. However, the people of South Sudan are committed to rebuilding their communities and supporting their children's education.

Marial Bai is a regional trading center that attracts visitors from hundreds of miles around, and Valentino seeks to help make the town a center of learning as well. He believes, along with most South Sudanese, that education plays an extremely important role in rebuilding the region. Improving the educational system in South Sudan is one of the best ways to build local capacity, create peaceful communities, and encourage the creation of viable economic opportunities for the people of South Sudan.

The VAD Foundation is a nonprofit organization working in South Sudan to create community-driven development projects. Established by Valentino Deng and Dave Eggers after the publication of What is the What, the Foundation's first major project is the construction and operation of an 18-structure educational complex in Valentino's hometown of Marial Bai, South Sudan. Marial Bai Secondary School (MBSS) has increased access to excellent secondary education, trained teachers, created equal opportunities for girls, and promoted literacy for children and adults in the region. MBSS is the highest ranking South Sudanese secondary school that is free for students to attend, a true leader in the movement to educate the new nation of South Sudan.

The VAD Foundation will always remain committed to its work in South Sudan. Despite the most recent civil war, life at Marial Bai Secondary School has persisted. We enrolled more students than ever to fight local food insecurity and prevent boys from being recruited to join the conflict. The VAD Foundation continually depends on the generosity of donors worldwide to pay for teacher salaries, provide food for the school, and repair or expand the learning facilities. We have implemented a campus farm which offsets the cost of the nutritional program and continue to take cost saving measures to ensure sustainability at the local level.

Much has been accomplished at the Marial Bai Secondary School, but much also remains:

With an increase from 242 students to 515 students, the nature of our multidisciplinary program and boarding facilities necessitates additional staff and expanding the nutrition program budget.

The political turmoil in South Sudan directly affects market supply and demand, which raises price of local commodities. The political unrest has made it more expensive to access and transport goods during the school year.

Financial strains and subsequent austerity measures have stymied many projects, such as completing the school's outdoor basketball court and a crucial deepwater well for running water and irrigation.

Since the completion of solar installation at the school, additional resources can continue to expose the students to technology and computer literacy.