Term 3 news

Dear all,

I am so happy to report that donors came forward and there were enough funds for all the students to return to school for the second term, in spite of my worries.  Thank you all so very much.  Similarly, I have received enough funds to send the students back to school to complete their school year. 

The third term begins on 14^th September.  Two of the deaf students, Joel and Vibrant, will be sitting their Primary Leaving Examinations.  Next year, they will go to the next-door secondary school for the deaf.  Depending on their grades, they will either be in the academic or vocational training stream.

I was able to visit Nimule during this school holidays and see at least some of my former students, which was very nice.  It felt like a real homecoming. 

In Nimule, one student, a boy called Jackson Otto, is now in his final year of primary school and coming up for his PLE.  Jackson has always been a very fast learner.  In fact he comes from a family of exceptionally bright children. 

Most students in South Sudan start school very late compared to western countries.  There is no mandatory school age, so families tend to send their children to school as and when they can afford it.  Many never get the chance at all.  As you will see from the photo of the students who are already at secondary school, they are all virtually adult.  This is the same across South Sudan and is a reflection of the lack of education available to them when they were small children.  I am glad to say that their headteacher speaks very highly of their academic standards.  The positive side is that they are all really keen and deeply grateful for the chance to study.

Jackson Otto

Jackson is the exception.  He started school at four and is now twelve.  He looks so small compared to his classmates.  He has two elder brothers who are already at secondary school through your support, and always top of the class.  His family is desperately poor.  His father died a few years ago leaving his mother to struggle alone with six children.  All except the eldest attended Cece Primary School.  Jackson’s mother has been providing for her family by walking very long distances to cut firewood, then carrying it back to Nimule to sell at the local market. 

Queensland Primary School, which Jackson is now attending, has announced that all Primary 8 students must stay in the boarding section for the final term so that they are available for extra lessons.  This is a reflection on how the vast majority of schools in South Sudan (and also in Uganda) burden the families of their students with financial problems.  To expect families to send their children to boarding school is to cater only for the rich.  As it is only for one term, it seemed very wasteful to buy all the boarding requirements, when Jackson will not be a boarder at secondary school.  Samuel, my agent in Nimule, went to see Jackson’s mother to see if she was able to provide any of the boarding necessities.  He was shocked by what he found.  Several of her children are sleeping on one single, very old and broken mattress.  Jackson’s mother has had an injury so that she is no longer able to carry the firewood she was relying on.  Samuel said that she looks very weak.  Clearly it will not be possible for her to help.  Instead, buying the necessities for Jackson’s final term will benefit the whole family.  That will mean a metal storage box, mosquito net, sheets, mattress, a bucket and basin, plate, cup and cutlery, as well as toiletries and stationery.  The costs of his food at school will increase as he will eat all his meals at school.  I am sure you will agree that it will be money well spent as the items will benefit the whole family after Jackson has finished primary school.

At the deaf secondary school, Aluma will be taking his final national vocational examinations in knitting this coming term.  He will be the first of my students to finish school. At the start of the course two years ago, I bought a knitting machine for him, which will belong to him and his family once he finishes school at the end of this year.  I am hoping that he and his family will be able to start a small knitting business, which will make Aluma a useful member of the family.  Again, it is a desperately poor family.  As I have posted previously, in addition to being completely deaf, Aluma has one paralyzed arm, semi-paralyzed leg and suffers from epilepsy.  One snag is that there are aspects of the knitting process that Aluma cannot do alone because of his disabilities.  I am hoping to find someone who can coach his father in ways to assist him.

Thank you once again for your generous support to these very needy students.

Please feel free to contact me on rebeccamallinson1@gmail.com.  I am always happy to answer any questions or give more detail.