St. Paul's Secondary School in Ezo, South Sudan
You can give hope to hundreds of South Sudanese teens who want to continue their education beyond primary school. Help build a high school!
In an isolated part of western South Sudan known as Ezo, there has been no functioning high school for a long time. Students who complete the primary grades have had no option to continue their schooling there. Teens whose families can raise the money can send their children to boarding school--which carries its own dangers. There have been no other options.
Until now. The Episcopal Church in Ezo recently launched St. Paul's Secondary School. Their current classrooms are under the trees or in spare space in a primary school. The bishop has developed a plan to build a school building but needs funds. While parents and community volunteers will make bricks and do the construction, funds are needed for steel supports, doors and windows, furniture, and tools. Will you consider donating?
St. Francis Episcopal Church in Great Falls, Virginia, is partnering with the Diocese of Ezo to raise the funds. St. Francis has partnered with the Ezo Diocese for more than 25 years (see the St. Francis website). St. Francis has a reliable way to transfer funds to the Diocese of Ezo and will send all donations to Ezo, earmarked for the school.
Background: South Sudan is both the newest country and the poorest country in the world. The growing pains of this young country have included civil war, tribal violence, famine, terrorism, disease, and more. In Ezo and many other parts of South Sudan, churches have been the stable providers of education, health care, and social services. In Ezo, the Episcopal Diocese runs health clinics and schools, promotes peace and reconciliation, and, more recently, cares for hundreds of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) streaming in from other parts of the country.
Student Stories: Read the stories of five teens who have found hope at the newly formed St. Paul's Secondary School. Several are Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) from other parts of South Sudan whose families migrated to Ezo to escape violence in their own communities. The school offers them the chance to continue their education and prepare for college or a career. Read about Maku who wants to be the president of South Sudan and Jocinta who wants to be a nurse, and learn about some of their schoolmates below.
- Maku: Hi my name is Maku, a student of St. Paul’s High School Ezo. Im 19 years old. Since conflict erupted in Tambura County, we had to flee for our lives to Ezo. I am an IDP who lost hope for further studies but thank God here I am at St. Paul’s High School. I was confused and wanting to go back for war to Tambura, but God has a purpose for me that is why He enable me to join High School. I want to be a president of the Republic of South Sudan and I believe through this High School, I am optimistic of my dream. I am only sad that the High School does not have a building structure of its own yet. This affects our learning in a way or the other. We are learning in two classrooms given to us by Masumbu Primary School and it is not comfortable. Thank you!
- Jocinta: Hi! My name is Jocinta. I am 18 years old studying at St. Paul’s High School Ezo Diocese. I am happy to be here. Before I got admitted to the school, I was worried about my future. I started becoming hopeless and even thinking of getting married since there was nothing else I can do. I started spending most of my time at the market, selling in a restaurant and going for night clubs. I found myself messing around hopelessly but thank God for the diocese of Ezo that opened a secondary school for us here in Ezo. My life changed when I joined St. Paul High School last year. Now I have hope for my brighter future. Next year I will be in senior three hoping to pursue my career. I want to be a nurse in future. Please, pray for us as we are lacking classrooms that can accommodate us all, we are using temporary Learning Shelter within Masumbu Primary School and it belongs to the primary school. We wish we as St. Paul High School could have our own. My God bless you
- Atoroba: My name is Atoroba. Senior one student at St. Paul’s High School Ezo, it is my pleasure to be here. When I completed my primary school in 2024, I was worried and didn’t know what to do to continue my studies since there is no functional secondary school in Ezo. My parents have not money send me to study in Yambio or elsewhere apart from Ezo. I could imagine a future without such basic education which only means suffering. Glory to God, with St. Paul’s High School in Ezo, all the worries are gone. I want to be a Pastor in future and I believe my dreams will come true for I m now at High School which is a gateway to seminary. But we are lacking adequate learning space for an High School.
- Luka: Hi my name is Luka K. I am 15years old, a senior one student at St. Paul’s High School. I came from Tambura last year after completing my primary eight exams. We came to Ezo here due to the fighting in Tambura. I was frustrated that I shall not be able to continue my studies. Without education I shall suffer like those who didn’t get chance to study when they were young. Many of them are treated like slaves because they are not educated. Since I arrived Ezo, I began asking for functional secondary school to join, but there was none except St. Paul’s High school which was newly opened last year, wow! I was excited that my hope is still alive. Now I have hope of my future of transforming my community to be creative and coexisting in peace and harmony for the better future of our nation. Thank you, but remember us in your prayers for classrooms since we do not have in adequate classes that can accommodate all of us.
- Kubako: My name is Kubako Naimaya a senior three student of St. Paul’s High School Ezo. Before I joined this school in 2024, I was staying idle loitering around playing cards doing nothing innovative that could help my life and my family. I had not hope of a better future. But since I was enrolled to the High school, my life has changed extremely; now Iam actively engaging in church activities such as youth ministry which keeps me busy and actively involving with people in community work that can transform our society. Currently, the High School doesn’t have a separate building for us. We are using Masumbu Primary School building and the space has become too small for two schools to be operating in one compound. I will be very excited if I see myself in our own High School environment. Thank you for your prayers.
These teens aren't asking for much: just a building with a roof and walls where they can learn and prepare for life. In the poorest country in the world, where violence and civil war tear families and communities apart, St. Paul's Secondary School offers hope and salvation for teens to continue their education. Let's give them that opportunity.
Will you help???
Organizer
St. Francis Episcopal Church
Beneficiary