When I arrived at St Peter Faber (SPF) primary school in a village called Akol Jal in South Sudan. The sun was high in the sky, and I was already wilting under its heat but none of that mattered as I approached the classroom block.
Students were excited and had gathered despite still being on their holidays to greet us. Some played football while others shyly smiled or waved at me.
Emer (IJI programs manager) and Rutsuko (IJI project officer) had arrived ahead of me and Fr Eric Wanyonyi SJ, the director of MAJIS and SPF, was taking them on a tour of the school. You could feel the excitement – So much progress and amazing work had been done so far and Eric lit up gesturing towards new construction.
Cement foundations for new classroom blocks had been laid already just beyond where children continued to play in the sunshine.
It was a surreal moment for me as I walked under the pavilion. Three years ago, I visited this very place, but the construction site I had remembered was now transformed!
That transformation couldn’t have been possible without the support and generosity of our friends and donors who came out in force for our classroom appeal.
“A dream has become a reality in Akol Jal!” Eric had said back in 2022. With funding from the Build a Classroom Appeal, and funding from Misean Cara in Ireland, 3 new classroom blocks and latrines had been completed transforming the lives of children now and for future generations ahead.
I mention all of this to show the power of solidarity and the impact being men and women for others can make to those at the margins. If I didn’t find this return visit inspiring enough while being shown classrooms – a familiar face became a real sign of just how meaningful our projects can be.
He smiled as I outstretched my hand. “Gabriel!” I exclaimed “Wow! It’s been a long time! Nice to see you again”
Gabriel was student at the Mazzolari Teacher Training College in Cuiebet, a town and a long drive north of Akol Jal. When we had met three years ago, Gabriel was training to be a teacher, and he was as passionate then as he is now – qualified and teaching at St Peter Faber.
Teacher Gabriel and Joe (IJI Research & Communications Officer) Classroom block in background
Meeting him three years ago was a memorable moment for me as it would be difficult to forget the passion (and vocation) he had for teaching and the drive to return as ‘a son of Akol Jal’ and empower and inspire his community to prosper through education and learning.
Gabriel had done what he set out to do, and I was delighted to hear that he had become Dean of the school!
The day I write this is incredibly fitting to share an inspiring journey such as Gabriel’s. Of teachers, just like him, overcoming so many challenges.
In South Sudan, the day to day lives of a teacher is a struggle and despite their importance for development in local communities – the importance of education has not been prioritized by the government.
For context, teachers in South Sudan are paid less than $5 per month and often these salaries are delayed.
Stories of teachers walking for miles to bring marginalised children a chance at a brighter future is a sad reality and classroom settings range from tents, grass-huts or simply in the shade of trees.
Teachers do all this whilst struggling under government incompetence, but it is through teaching training projects and YOUR support – that teachers like Gabriel have their voices heard and the support to empower their communities.
Gabriel is an example of how our collective support and generosity can really transform lives now and for the future and for World Teacher Day, I think no better story can be told.
You can follow Gabriel’s story from the beginning by clicking: here
And for more on all our education projects, visit: www.iji.ie/education