In 2019, due to the efforts of GESS (Girls Education in South Sudan), UNICEF, FCDO (Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office) and others, attendance numbers are growing in schools across South Sudan, but there is still a long way to go. Enrollment in St Mark’s Orthodox School has reached over 600 pupils, with half being girls aged 3 to 15. Each child in Nursery receives a daily cooked meal with other children receiving freshly baked bread. A balanced curriculum has been designed and implemented, while tireless gathering of resources is continuing to maintain a safe environment and build a sustainable educational future.
From the start of 2020, the work of Friends of St Mark's Juba has continued despite the difficulties brought on by the pandemic. This has meant we have been unable to travel to Juba to carry out our work at the school. However, we have used our initiative to build relationships with contacts on the ground, in Juba, who continue to carry out our mission and distribute our school resources and family support payments.
