Girl Education in Africa – Our Work in South Sudan
We have some exciting news! Drop in the Bucket has just celebrated the graduation of our first group of South Sudanese secondary students. South Sudan has the lowest percentage of girls in secondary school in all of Africa. So this is a huge milestone in our goal to promote more girl education in Africa.
When we first started our scholarship program four years ago, we were not expecting inter-tribal war, a refugee crisis, or a global pandemic.
But despite many enormous challenges, we have a wonderful reason to celebrate. The first group of twenty-five girls has officially graduated from secondary school.
In the past four years, these girls have become part of the DROP family. We have mentored them through hard times, cheered on their victories, and watched them grow and thrive.
The program started with 25 girls and is now sponsoring 140 vulnerable but hardworking girls to go to school.
For the graduation, a group of donors funded a gift for each of them, which was a tailor-made traditional dress, handbags, and watches. The girls also got the opportunity to Zoom with supporters in the US. It was a wonderful day of celebrating their great accomplishment. Community members and education stakeholders also attended the graduation party. Some gave motivational speeches about how proud they were of these girls. The girls also read poems and spoke to the group about their experience.
Click here to read more about our education program.
Why is a Water Charity Running a Program Educating Girls in South Sudan?
In sub-Saharan Africa, there are many challenges around educating girls. But when it comes to educating girls in South Sudan, the challenges are even greater. The country has been in some sort of war or conflict for decades. South Sudan is also one of the poorest countries in the world. Many are living in refugee camps. And most families find it difficult to provide even the basic necessities like food for their families.
Even if a girl does make it to secondary school, the odds are stacked against her actually completing all four years.
Why Girls?
From the time a female child is born, there is an understanding that she will be married off for a dowry when she comes of age. And that is often at adolescence. Though it’s technically illegal to marry an underage girl, it is the norm that is practiced throughout the country.
Since it’s understood that after she is married, she will become the property and responsibility of her husband. It’s often perceived as a bad investment to spend money on educating girls. With this level of poverty, if given the opportunity, parents will most often support their male children first.
Most South Sudanese girls will have little say in their marriage. And with South Sudan being a polygamist country, girls are often promised to wealthy older men who already have wives.
Educating Girls in South Sudan
Drop in the Bucket’s education program offers girls the opportunity to attend good boarding schools where they are able to focus on their studies without the distractions of domestic duties and other struggles. We are generally supporting between 125 and 150 students who are enrolled at schools in Uganda and South Sudan. If a girl qualifies academically, we enroll her in a Uganda school, where the school system is more stable, with qualified female teachers and boarding facilities. For those who do not score high enough to be accepted in Uganda schools, we have opened the DROP dorm which provides boarding for the girls who are enrolled in day school in South Sudan.
Although the main goal of the program is to provide the girls with a structured environment where they receive an education, it also buys them four more years to mature and grow up while they delay marriage a little longer.
The program provides more than just tuition. We also ensure that the students have scholastic materials, personal items, academic coaching, food, accommodations, support structure, security and medical treatment.
The Importance of Girl Education in Africa
For the graduation, a group of donors raised funds for a graduation gift of new traditional dresses, hand bags, and watches. The girls Zoomed with donors, which was so exciting and new for us all. It was a wonderful day of celebrating their great accomplishment. Community members also attended the graduation party. Some gave motivational speeches about how proud they were of the girls and their great accomplishment.
To quote Kofi Annan:
“An educated girl is more likely to delay marriage and childbirth, enjoy greater income and productivity, and raise fewer, healthier and better-educated children. Indeed, investments in girls’ education have proven to go further than any other spending in global development.”
– Kofi Annan – Former Secretary General of the United Nations.
So to answer the question “Why is a water charity running a program educating girls in South Sudan?”. The answer is – water, sanitation, gender equality and education promote lasting change.
Deserted streets in Kitgum, Uganda during the 2020 Covid-19 pandemic
Greetings from Uganda. I hope everybody is staying safe and managing the new and unusual lives we are living during this coronavirus global crisis.
It’s been a dramatic couple of months for the world. When I returned to Uganda at the end of January, life was very different than it is today. Over the past couple of months, we’ve been reading reports about the unimaginable global death toll and hearing stories about the impact the COVID-19 lockdown has had on almost every corner of the earth.
Here, in the communities where we work, most people lack the basic necessities that are essential to fighting off a deadly virus – clean water and soap. And an outbreak of a virus like COVID-19 could easily devastate the country. For that reason, the nation has been actively participating in the global effort to shut down, social distance and stop the spread.
In February, the government began monitoring, testing and quarantining travelers coming in from high-risk countries. And by mid-March, a full shutting down of the country was underway. Businesses stopped operating, except those selling food or medicine. The airport was closed and students were sent home from schools. All public gatherings were banned, and even funerals were prohibited.
By the beginning of April, even more stringent measures went into place. All transportation, both public and private, was stopped. The remaining borders were closed and the military was dispatched to enforce a 7PM curfew.
Now, the streets of Uganda are empty.
The usually bustling streets of Kitgum, Uganda stand empty during the Covid-19 pandemic.
But the people are being kept well informed. There is a website that is updated daily with the latest statistics on testing, quarantines, tracking and tracing. And the president gives regular speeches on the radio, which is the way everybody here gets their news. Even in the deep villages, people use radios to keep up with the outside world. He provides information on how the virus is easily spread and strategies for protecting yourself and others. He regularly reminds the country that it is their social responsibility to not get each other sick. And the best way to do that is to stay home.
And although these are some of the most extreme measures in all of Africa, there is no question that if coronavirus were to take hold here, it would be a disaster. Left unchecked, COVID-19 would tear through this country and they do not have the medical infrastructure to manage it. Without sufficient PPE, something like this would also take out a good percentage of their medical force and the country cannot afford to lose their valuable nurses and doctors. Also, since so many rural villages do not have clean water, the virus could easily infect entire communities.
So the country completely shut down. And, as with the rest of the world, it has not been easy. Most people here live day to day and have no savings. Weekly village markets, which provide vital food, supplies and small economic opportunities to rural communities, have been stopped. But there was no option. The markets attract large numbers of people who crowd onto lorries bringing them from the villages. The entire way of life here is social and involves being very close to others. It is a breeding ground for a contagious virus.
But, for us here at DROP, it has been business as usual. When the shutdown began, the government officials in the district we are working appealed to us to please keep drilling. They granted us special permission to have our vehicles on the road and even provided soldiers to guard our equipment at times. We have had complete support because people here know that clean water not only saves lives, it also helps fight COVID-19. And we plan to help as much as we can, including expanding our community trainings to include a component that focuses on COVID-19, with tips on how to stay safe and stop the spread.
For the past 14 years, DROP has made it our mission to bring clean water to these rural communities. Last year alone, we drilled over 40 wells. And this year, despite the pandemic and country-wide lockdown, we have not let up.
Although the world can feel dark at times like this, it really brings a ray of light to the people here to know they have not been forgotten and that we are still coming, as promised, to bring them clean water.
So, thank you for your continued support. Stay safe and please keep washing your hands!
Drop in the Bucket staffcdistributing soap to refugees in South Sudan
SOME TIPS FOR EFFECTIVE HAND WASHING While we are in no way experts in viruses, we do have some experience in hand washing, having taught hygiene and sanitation at schools in Africa for more than a decade.
The virus can’t be killed, just eroded. The way it works is, the virus is just a protein – it’s not a living organism, it is a protein with a protective layer of fat surrounding it. This means it cannot be killed, it must decay to become harmless. Soap cuts the layer of fat and the exposed protein starts breaking down.
But it takes time. The longer you wash your hands, the more the fat breaks down. The foam that you produce by rubbing your hands together is excellent for cutting fat, so the more foam, the better. (30 seconds is a good amount of time for the soap to do its job)
Use warm water. Heat melts fat, so warm water is better than cold water, but if you don’t have warm water, cold water still works.
Isopropyl Alcohol also works. Isopropyl alcohol (often sold as rubbing alcohol) also dissolves fat, but it has to be over 65% alcohol. Vodka or gin or most alcohol sold as a consumable product will not work as they are generally around 40% alcohol.
Antibacterial products are not better than soap. Friends of mine in the US have been asking me about if they should be using an anti-bacterial soap or which type of soap is the best to use in this situation and the answer is the best type of soap is the one you have. The corona virus is actually a protein molecule. It is not a bacteria, so anti-bacterial soaps are not actually better in this case. The soap can be scented or unscented, it can be a bar or a liquid, it can be a well-known brand, handmade or a generic brand All of them will work in the same way and most importantly, all of them will work.
What about hand sanitizer? Hand sanitizers need to contain at least 65% alcohol and they cannot be alcohol-free, as many are. If they list benzalkonium chloride as the active ingredient or the label contains the words “alcohol-free formula, these will not remove the protective fat around the virus protein, so they don’t actually help.
Keep surfaces clean at home too. Lysol works, so does bleach. Bleach is more practical but must be diluted 1-part bleach to 5-parts water. Caution must be practiced when using bleach as it can be harmful to certain surfaces including your skin.
In terms of what works best, the answer is still soap and water, though covering your mouth/nose in public, and not touching your face are also important. If you are in an indoor public area (like a supermarket) a mask is advised. We hope this helps and we hope you stay safe and healthy during this global pandemic.
Drop in the Bucket hygiene and sanitation trainers teaching effective hand washing to South Sudanese refugee children.
Drop in the Bucket provides water, sanitation training, and education to schools and communities in Africa. We regularly teach the importance of good hygiene to avoid the spread of disease, and as we all try to mitigate the impact of this novel strain of coronavirus, we wanted to share some of what we’ve learned with you.
Wash your hands well enough to kill viruses: with soap and water for 20-30 seconds. Experts are suggesting singing Happy Birthday twice, which absolutely works, or you could go with the classic “A little bit of soap” – also, the chorus of the Bee Gees Stayin’ Alive is the perfect length to get your hands clean!
Stay Home! If you can avoid going out please do. It’s not just about you – it’s about trying not to infect the most vulnerable among us. It’s about slowing the spread to avoid overwhelming our hospitals, so everyone who needs help can get it.
Wash your hands! We repeat. Wash your hands with soap and water. For 30 seconds.
Keep some distance! This virus can be silently transmitted by people who look and feel healthy so social distancing is paramount. Keep a 6 foot physical distance from other people to minimize the risk of coming into contact with the virus.
When you go out for provisions, consider who you can help if possible. An elderly neighbor, or if a family member has asthma – do whatever you can to help them avoid unessential trips outside for the next few weeks.
This is not the time for xenophobia, viruses don’t recognize borders and please don’t hoard more than you need. We all live together on this big beautiful planet and we’re going to get through this if we work together. Be kind to each other and look out for each other.
How You Can Help
In order to get the new dorm in shape, we’ll need to do some painting, fixing up, piping water from the well to the bathrooms, and even putting a new roof on one of the buildings. Your donations will go directly toward making those much-needed repairs. The girls are so excited to be moving in by April 1st and we can’t wait to send you photos!
As we look forward to celebrating International Women’s Day on March 8, 2020, we’d like to give an update on a very special project close to our hearts.
We recently heard from the parish priest in Nimule, South Sudan that a compound that belongs to the church, which was previously occupied by some nuns, was coming available to rent.
The compound is very well secured with two gates, five building blocks, large grounds with lots of trees and it is very close to their school. Everything about the place is perfect. It’s been pretty neglected due to a lack of money for maintenance and repairs when the sisters were there.
So we would like to clean it up and make some repairs before we take the girls over.
We are officially moving into the new dormitory on April 1st!
A Brighter Future For Young Girls in Africa
Drop in the Bucket’s girl education program in South Sudan works to identify primary school students who are excelling academically, but cannot afford to attend secondary school. We began sponsoring students in 2016 and currently have awarded over 100 girls with secondary school scholarships.
Since most of their parents are living in the refugee camps, we try to enroll our girls in boarding schools in Uganda. But not all of our students qualify to attend school in Uganda. So we have now opened the DROP dorm in South Sudan, which currently accommodates many of these girls. Our goal is to provide them with a safe learning environment where they are free to grow, create and pursue their academic dreams.
“If every girl worldwide received 12 years of quality education, lifetime earnings for women could increase by up to $30 trillion globally, boosting the GDPs of entire countries worldwide.”- MIT Solve
How You Can Help
In order to get the new dorm in shape, we’ll need to do some painting, fixing up, piping water from the well to the bathrooms, and even putting a new roof on one of the buildings. Your donations will go directly toward making those much-needed repairs. The girls are so excited to be moving in by April 1st and we can’t wait to send you photos!
Drop in the Bucket believes that water is a basic human right and by providing access to clean water we can solve a multitude of the world’s problems. On March 22nd, 2020 we’re celebrating World Water Day and we’d like your help to spread awareness about the World Water Crisis we’re all facing.
“Our bodies, our cities and our industries, our agriculture and our ecosystems all depend on it. Water is a human right. Nobody should be denied access.” — UN Secretary-General António Guterres
Why Does Clean Water Mater?
According to the UN, 700 million people worldwide could be displaced by intense water scarcity by 2030. That’s a scary number!
By building wells and sanitation systems in Uganda and South Sudan, Drop in the Bucket, is directly fighting the World Water Crisis in some of the world’s most vulnerable areas. See our completed projects below.
Drop in the Bucket has drilled over 400 wells in Uganda and South Sudan.
You can do a lot on your own, but think what you could do with a group? Start a fundraiser with your business, school, church, team, or organization group! Once your well is drilled we’ll send you photos of it being used. That way you can see the faces of the children you helped. We will also place a tile with the inscription of your choice on the tile as a permanent commemoration of your achievement. Learn More.
The greatest gift you can give is the gift of life. It’s hard to wrap our heads around the fact that while we all have so much, some people only need one thing to improve their lives, clean water. Next year on your birthday ask your friends to do something different. Give them the opportunity to change an entire community’s lives. Why not donate your next birthday and instead of gifts ask people to help build a well in your name? Learn More.
Monthly donations make it possible for us to plan ahead with drilling projects. Knowing that we have the funds to drill more wells in a specific area means we can be more efficient and help more people. Please consider signing up for a monthly donation, no amount is too small or too large, but being able to count on regular monthly donations is huge for us as an organization so we really appreciate all of our regular supporters. Honestly, we couldn’t do any of this without you. Learn More
Nursery school students in Paicho, Uganda now have access to clean water thanks to a new well drilled by Drop in the Bucket.
Thanks to your generous donations, Drop in the Bucket has drilled over 400 wells and sanitation systems since 2006!
Drop in the Bucket’s work: Empowering Girls in Africa Through Clean Water and Sanitation
According to the UN, a 15-year-old girl in South Sudan has a higher chance of dying during childbirth than finishing high school. In response to statistics like this, Drop In The Bucket has been creating programs to help girls stay in school through water and sanitation initiatives, menstrual hygiene management, economic empowerment through scholarships, workshops and mentoring programs. We see empowering girls to stay in school as a key cornerstone of or work in Africa.
Why It Matters
Educated girls grow to have a voice in their community, a better understanding of economics and opportunities and can improve the quality of life in the village for decades to come.
Did you know water, sanitation & education are all closely related to gender?
Girls in Africa Waste Hours Every Day Fetching Water
Although education is valued in East Africa, boys’ education is prioritized. Girls are often tasked with fetching water while their brothers go to school. This leaves little time to focus on an education. Learn More
Girls Missing School Due to A Lack of Clean Water
Girls drop out at much higher rates once they hit puberty. Without effective mechanisms to handle menstruation, they miss a week of school per month, fell behind, and eventually drop out. Make A Difference
How to Help Girls in Africa Stay in School
We’ve created programs to help girls stay in school through clean water and sanitation, menstrual hygiene management, economic empowerment through scholarships and mentoring programs. Join Us
In 2019, Drop in the Bucket drilled a well at a school near Gulu, Uganda where we met a very special young student named Precious. Check out this video of how a water well at her school changed this one girl’s life!
Drop in the Bucket is supporting Clean Water and Education Initiatives in Africa
By locating our wells in schools and providing water-related educational materials, we support education inside the village. School attendance often increases dramatically when a well is built. This is true particularly amongst girls because they’re typically tasked with fetching the family’s daily water.
Help Drop in the Bucket empower young girls to stay in school and fully harness the life-changing power of an education.
You can do a lot on your own, but think what you could do with a group? Start a fundraiser with your business, school, church, team, or organization group! Once your well is drilled we’ll send you photos of it being used. That way you can see the faces of the children you helped. We will also place a tile with the inscription of your choice on the tile as a permanent commemoration of your achievement. Learn More.
The greatest gift you can give is the gift of life. It’s hard to wrap our heads around the fact that while we all have so much, some people only need one thing to improve their lives, clean water. Next year on your birthday ask your friends to do something different. Give them the opportunity to change an entire community’s lives. Why not donate your next birthday and instead of gifts ask people to help build a well in your name? Learn More.
You can help give the gift of clean water and change the world with Drop in the Bucket.
