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FIGS Spring Newsletter

FIGS Newsletter – February 2026

The wait is over! This year's Big Give Christmas Challenge is officially open! From noon on December 2nd to noon on December 9th, we are aiming to raise over £72,000 to sustain and grow Friends of Ibba Girls Boarding School in South Sudan—providing girls with quality education, safe boarding, meals, and fair pay for staff. Will you join us? Together, we can empower her future!

The third and final term of the IGBS year began in mid-October. For the top primary and secondary cohorts (P8 and S4), this is the milestone term with national primary exams in November and national secondary exams in December.

Each year, #World Food Day reminds all of us at Friends of Ibba Girls School (FIGS) of the shared responsibility we have in building a world where everyone has access to safe, nutritious, and sustainable food. Yet, despite global efforts, hunger and malnutrition remain critical challenges. According to the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), nearly 140 million people faced high levels of acute food insecurity in 2024, with conflict identified as the leading cause. Alongside conflict, climate change is driving shifts in crop yields, altering fish populations, and increasing the spread of pests and diseases that threaten already fragile food systems. Friends of Ibba Girls School (FIGS), a UK charity supporting the education of over 300 girls at Ibba Girls Boarding School in South Sudan, works to ensure that access to nutritious food is a key part of that education. Good nutrition is the foundation of health and learning, but sustainable food systems are the foundation of nutrition itself. The FAO highlights that sustainable development will not succeed unless it places local communities at its centre, in turn, empowering farmers, fisherfolk, and young people with the tools and decision-making power to manage natural resources wisely. When communities can grow food sustainably, they not only feed themselves but also nurture the land for generations to come. At Ibba Girls Boarding School (IGBS) in South Sudan, these global challenges are met with local action. This year, the school has expanded its farm by one and a half hectares, giving each class its own plot of land to cultivate. Under the guidance of Agriculture Teacher Mr. Tabani John, students are learning to grow a variety of crops, including maize, spinach, eggplant, and tomatoes. Plans are also underway to plant 400 coffee seedlings and 56 orange trees, both to enrich the diet at school and to generate future income. “We have planted maize and hope that the harvest will reduce the expenditure on food,” explains Head Teacher Rita Akelo. “After maize, we intend to plant coffee and oranges. This will help the school generate income in the near future.” The school garden has become more than a food source; it is a classroom for life. As a Secondary 4 student shared, “My experience in the garden has been marvellous because it’s a time we share different skills from our homes and learn teamwork. Our teachers remind us that agriculture is the backbone of our country.” For other students, the experience has also bridged the gap between theory and practice: “The garden has helped me transform my classroom knowledge into real-life skills. I was happy knowing we’ll eat maize flour produced within our school.” Additionally, the benefits of the farm are reaching families beyond the school gates. As one student explained: “The skills I’ve learnt here have enabled me to teach my mother back home. Now our family grows vegetables like tomatoes and eggplants, which we sell to buy essentials like salt and soap.” Through this initiative, IGBS is not only cultivating crops, but also self-reliance, resilience, and empowerment. With support from Friends of Ibba Girls School (FIGS), the school’s farm is helping young women become leaders in sustainable agriculture, ensuring that the lessons of World Food Day are lived every day in the fields of Ibba.

A ministerial visit to IGBS, IGBS students speaking at the opening of Ibba Hospital, registration open for the Big Give Party, and more news from FIGS & IGBS this September.

July newsletter, featuring: Elections at IGBS; The Sudden Passing of the Paramount Chief of Ibba County; Maintenance Works at IGBS; Sports and Farming at IGBS; New Grants for FIGS; WTI Recognised in the Charity Awards 2025; and Coventry Street Sale Raises Funds.

FIGS Chair of Trustees, Chris Trott, reflects on the late Pope Francis' call to "build bridges, not walls", plus news from IGBS and FIGS including P8 exam results and applications open to join the Board of FIGS Trustees.

April newsletter with updates on IGBS and the political developments in South Sudan.

FIGS newsletter for February 2025.

A big thank you to all of you who helped make this our most successful Big Give Christmas Challenge yet.

Discover how you can take part by getting your donation DOUBLED in the Christmas Challenge, plus other news from FIGS and IGBS.

FIGS October 2024 newsletter, with information about the upcoming 10th anniversary webinar, this year's online Big Give Party, and more news.

Our September newsletter with updates from IGBS and FIGS, plus some dates for diary for upcoming events.

Our August newsletter with updates on FIGS, IGBS, and South Sudan at the Paris 2024 Olympics.

The latest FIGS and IGBS news, including updates from IGBS staff and announcement of our incoming FIGS Treasurer.

Plus a personal announcement from FIGS Chair David Lewis.

Match funding now available for new and increased regular donations.

Including an updates on the IGBS school leavers and the fundraising efforts of the Friends of Ibba community.

Our December newsletter, looking back on 2023 and looking forward to 2024.

Thank you and well done to all the FIGS community for successfully unlocking all matching funds in this year's Christmas Challenge.

Match funding is available in the Christmas Challenge for a limited time only, so check it out!

Our November newsletter with updates on inter-school debating, school-leaver celebrations, Christmas fundraising and more.

October newsletter, featuring a video of thanks from the students and staff at IGBS, and details on the practical difference your support can make.

Our partners at Windle Trust International have interviewed Rita Akello, Senior Woman Teacher at IGBS. Discover more here!

In this edition of the newsletter, we're pleased to announce success for the secondary school leavers - the pioneering cohort of IGBS - as well as lots of other updates from the school.

Get the latest updates from Ibba Girls' School here.

There has been a tragic outbreak of fighting in Sudan, northern neighbour to South Sudan. Ibba Girls' Boarding School remains safe.

IGBS has turned a corner and is ready to face the challenges of this new era with fresh vigour. Can you be part of the story as a regular donor?

Join us to support girls' education this International Women's Day.

The newsletter this month has been written entirely by a small team of student journalists at Ibba Girls' Boarding School. We hope you will enjoy learning about the school from the girls' own perspective and in their own words!

A reflection following the 'Pilgrimage of Peace to South Sudan' by the Pope, Archbishop of Canterbury, and Moderator of the Church of Scotland.

The girl students have arrived back at the school after the Christmas break. It's a milestone New Year for the girls and their teachers, as the school turns a new corner and prepares for new beginnings.

The December newsletter from the FIGS team.

Between 29 Nov and 6 Dec, your donations can be doubled by matching funds!

Marking Peace Day by Looking back on education and peacebuilding events over the summer.

Change of date due to rail strikes, and lunch now included for in-person attendees. We hope to see you there!

Upcoming hybrid event this August; an interview with a South Sudanese mother and academic; & updates from Ibba Girls' School.

Updates from IGBS and FIGS, including election of prefects at the school, advertising for new FIGS trustees, and an invitation to join us in London on 18 August.

Heavy rainfall will soon refresh the lush, green campus of Ibba Girls' Boarding School. Those are not the only signs of vibrant life and new possibility arriving at IGBS; the girl students have returned for the start of a milestone academic year, when for the first time there are students in all four secondary year groups.

What steps can you take towards gender equality? #BreakTheBais

New trustees and staff have brought a sense of renewed vision to IGBS.

Booking is now open for our webinar on Saturday 5th February.

Our newsletter for December, reflecting on the ups and downs of 2021.

In this edition of our newsletter, learn more about how your donation can be doubled in the #ChristmasChallenge21. Also read about the latest on recruitment for the Head Teacher and Senior Finance Manager posts at IGBS, and more.

The Big Give's Christmas Challenge is back! Join us to celebrate at 7pm on 30th Nov. #ChristmasChallenge21

Join us as we look back on 10 years of independence in South Sudan and 10 years investing in education for Friends of Ibba Girls' School.

Easter greetings and a warm welcome to the latest FIGS newsletter, in which we bring you hopeful news of political stabilisation in South Sudan and a potential return to school for the girls...

FIGS February Newsletter

The school re-opened on 6th October for the cohort of 26 Primary 8 students, who continue to prepare for their Primary Leaving Certificate exams which are due to take place in February.

FIGS Trustees are delighted to announce the appointment of David Lewis as the new Chair of FIGS.

After a long period of uncertainty, the Government of South Sudan has just announced a phased return to school after the enforced lockdown - starting with the Primary 8 classes who will now have 6 days a week of intensive teaching to catch up for their Primary Leaving Certificate Exams, now postponed until next March...

This issue includes an urgent appeal for flood victims in Ibba village, and an interview with trustee Margaret Eddershaw.

Now available to download.

After 9 years as FIGS’ founding chair of trustees, and as part of a long-standing plan for good governance, John Benington will be stepping down as chair of trustees on 1 May 2020. He will be handing over the reins to Roy Warden.

Catch up on the March newsletter here.

Science, education and gender equality are all vital to the success of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, and these are all celebrated on the International Day of Women and Girls in Science today.

"The sense of optimism and hope on my recent visit to South Sudan was almost tangible..."

In this July 2018 issue of the FIGS Newsletter, read the latest news from Ibba Girls Boarding School and find out how supporters, Trustees, schoolchildren and choristers are being friends to girl students in South Sudan.

Read Ibba Girls School founder Bridget Nagomoro's story, and celebrate with us this International Women's Day 2018.

In this issue of FIGS February 2018 Newsletter, we celebrate the start of the 5th year of Ibba Girls Boarding School.

FIG December 2017 Newsletter

FIGS welcome Mark Simmons as its first Chief Executive Officer!

Great news: Thanks to your fantastic generosity, the Big Give 2017 has so far raised over £64,000 for Ibba Girls Boarding School.

Annual Meeting Sat 25 Nov 12-6; Big Give Tue 28 Nov 12 noon

Will you change the life of a girl in South Sudan, starting today?

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September 2017 Newsletter

FIGS May 2017 Newsletter

FIGS March 2017 Newsletter

FIGS February Newsletter

FIGS October 2016 Newsletter

FIGS September 2015 Newsletter

FIGS July 2016 Newsletter

FIGS May 2016 Newsletter

FIGS March 2016 Newsletter

FIGS February 2016 Newsletter

FIGS December 2015 Newsletter

FIGS July 2015 Newsletter