Angelina Mading is 17-years old and she has entered the eighth grade at the Ajong Primary School in South Sudan. Angelina is the first girl in her family to receive a formal education, thanks to the 2005 peace agreement between South and North Sudan. It paved the way for educational opportunities for females who had previously been denied access to an education. Angelina embraces the lessons she learns at school each day and tries to pass them on to her younger siblings when she returns home.
This week, students at Ajong spoke by Skype with students at School Number 36 in Rochester about their books, favorite classes, the transportation they take to school and the weather. It was 91 degrees in South Sudan this week.
On Monday, I'll share news about my interview with the first-elected female governor of East Africa. She happens to be a native of Warrap State, where the Ajong Primary School is located. I'll also be speaking to the Minister of Education and a women's rights activist.
This is part of WXXI’s reporting and civic engagement initiative around Schools for South Sudan, which explores issues related to education, diversity and racism locally and around the world. Schools for South Sudan is supported in part by The Community Foundation. Follow Hélène's reporting trip on Twitter: @HeleneWXXI and #SouthSudanEd
