News

South Sudanese women speak about their education and careers

Trustee Jean Hartley and former Chair John Benington write in tribute to Jill Royle.

Join us for our virtual walk from Coventry (our HQ) to Ibba, Steps for South Sudan. Our 8,494 kilometre trek will take us through some stunning landscapes while raising money for Ibba Girls' School.

Florence Nightingale was born in 1820. Here in this celebratory video, Margaret Eddershaw reads and performs her nine poems about Florence. By producing this video, it is hoped that funds will be raised to build a Health Centre at Ibba Girl's School in South Sudan. The poems are interpolated with a biographical narrative read by Keith Sturgess.

We're looking for a new Chair of Trustees for the UK charity.

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

Today we celebrate the 6th anniversary of Ibba Girls' School and Nagomoro Bridget's birthday, its Founding Chair

Today is National Thank a Teacher Day, an opportunity to celebrate teachers, school leaders and school support staff for their amazing work, not only in these challenging times but all year round

We are recruiting two volunteers to join our team! Find out more about our exciting roles. We are looking for a social media coordinator and a programme funding advisor

We launch three new fun fundraising campaigns you can do from home during the Covid-19 pandemic

We invite you to take part in the 2.6 challenge and raise funds for Friends of Ibba Girls' School this April

Mark Simmons, CEO of Friends of Ibba Girls' School, provides an update on the current situation in South Sudan in relation to COVID-19.

Julia Sanders, FIGS Trustee and Volunteer, gives a first-hand report of her recent visit to IGBS with Paul.

In partnership with The Turing Trust, we're requesting donations of £50 that will support the teaching and learning of information technology in sub-Saharan Africa.

Download our Summer 2019 Student Sponsor Report here. Could you become a Student Sponsor, giving £33 a month to give a girl the chance to learn at Ibba Girls' Boarding School?

A thought-provoking poem from Edward Bond, reproduced here on the anniversary of the final, most devastating, air raids over London and Berlin in WWII.

On Sunday 29th July over 25,000 amateur cyclists will follow a hundred-mile course throughout the city of London and surrounding countryside. Amongst these will be our very own trustee, Pamela Lomoro.

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

Pope Francis has called for today, Friday 23 February 2018 to be a day of prayer and fasting for South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The Catholic Bishops of South Sudan issue a bold statement on the day of prayer and fasting for South Sudan, calling for the killing to stop, for peace to be made, and offering a safe space to facilitate the peace process.

Click for details of the music CD by Ibba Girls School students coming your way in early March -- as well as a poetry collection and the embroidery from a South Sudanese women's collective!

We're delighted that FIGS has been recognised with a Christmas Challenge 2017 Third Place Award, for excellence in coordinating our 2017 Big Give campaign.

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!

Vaida is now in her penultimate year of primary education at IGBS. Here, she shares some of her experiences, particularly the difference between IGBS and her previous school.

About 50 people from all parts of the UK converged on Coventry for FIGS Annual Supporters Meeting on Sat Nov 25 – and many of them voted it the most inspirational AGM yet.

Reports from Keith Sturgess and Margaret Eddershaw, who visited South Sudan with John Benington and Jean Hartley in November 2017.

Some Notes on Visit to Juba and Ibba in Nov 2017

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

This year's FIGS Christmas cards are available now.

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

Bishop Hiboro Edwardo , of Tambura Yambio diocese, recently made a trip to Ibba Girls School on the 8th and 9th October.

As a Friend of Ibba, you join hundreds of others all looking to give, volunteer and fundraise -- to be true friends to the girl students at Ibba for life. Read two of our Friends' Natalie Rothwell, Eric Shepley stories now.

Join our 'Thunderclap' on Facebook and Twitter

DON'T MISS OUR ANNUAL MEETING in Coventry on Sat Nov 26

Budding entrepreneurs Lila and Danya, both aged 10, recently organised themselves to sell recycled pens to children in their Year 5 group at Brunswick Primary School, to fund school supplies for the students of Ibba Girls Boarding School, South Sudan.

As many of you know, the founder of Ibba Girls School, Bridget Nagomoro is currently in the UK studying for her Masters in Development Management with The Open University.

Catholic Bishop Taban receives peace and reconciliation award from the Anglican Church

Last year we raised £54,000 for Ibba Girls School through the Big Give matched funding campaign. This year we aim to raise a similar sum for the 2017-18 cohorts of new students...

Thank you so much for your donations to Ibba Girls Boarding School.

Kindness recovers kinship, a reality of connection there to be made.

Article from John Benington

We would like to extend a huge 'thank you!' to all of these Friends of Ibba Girls School, who have made it possible for 120 South Sudanese girls to continue their education in a safe, healthy environment.

Friends of Ibba Girls School (FIGS) is delighted to announce that the Zhejiang Wonder Public Foundation, from Zhejiang Province, China, has made a generous donation of USD135,000 to cover the costs of constructing a dormitory and washroom block this year.

A team of 3 FIGS volunteers (Julia and Paul Sanders and Sue Hunt) is visiting Ibba from April 14 to 28. They are all experienced UK teachers, who have gone to do capacity building work with Ibba Girls School, working shoulder to shoulder alongside the IGBS staff. They will also contribute to English language teaching for staff and students, review progress with the building programme, and attend the Board of Governors meeting. They will send several blogs and photos while they are there

A big thank-you to all of you who responded quickly to our call to Pledge for Parity on 8th March 2016, International Women’s Day, by sponsoring girl students at Ibba Girls School.

by Margaret Eddershaw

Published in Riding the Rainbow

Big Give: over £53,000 raised!

Progress Report from Chernise Neo, Feb 2016

Carried out in Ibba in Feb 2016, jointly by Jean Hartley (FIGS Trustee) and Vicky Dratia (IGBS Director of Studies)

“We’ve been waiting for you a long, long time”

Reflections from fundraiser Chernise

FIGS Trustees John Benington and Jean Hartley stand with staff and students, all wearing their green school shirts at Ibba Girls Boarding School

Margaret Eddershaw, poet and one of FIGS' strongest supporters celebrates #WEARITGREEN with a heartfelt poem.

The girl students at Ibba Girls Boarding School are back and raring to learn.

Fundraising Ceilidh 7pm at Beechwood Tennis Club

A collection of poems published in 2015 to raise awareness & support for Ibba School

Christmas Greeting Cards from IBBA Girls School, South Sudan

On Saturday 15 September the Kineton Sports and Social Club in Litttle Kineton, will be hosting an evening of jazz with vocalist and pianist Julie Dunnand Ray Butcher on the trumpet. All proceeds from the evening will go to Ibba Girls’ School, South Sudan.

Brother Bill from the RC Solidarity team, with whom FIGS work at the Teachers Training College in Yambio, on the situation in South Sudan.

Gary, Trustee and Treasurer of the Friends of Ibba Girls School set off to visit the school last week with other fellow members ahead of the welcoming of the second intake of girls.

In celebration of the UN International Day of the Girl-Child, Saturday 11th October 2014, our giant pencil weaved its way around the streets of London.

Sunday 12 October saw Friends of Ibba Girls School UK trustee Julie Lodrick run in the York marathon to raise money for Ibba Girls School.

Thursday 9 October 2014 saw one of the largest gatherings of South Sudanese diaspora in London for the official launch of Pencil Power.

Limited Edition Christmas card are now available for sale.

Get ready to do good with the next selfie trend to take social media by storm, #pencilpower selfies, for education for girls.

UK Trustees John Benington and Jean Hartley are currently visiting us at Ibba Girls School.

This Pencil Spells Hope

Margaret Eddershaw has been doing further fundraising for FIGS through the sales of her poetry books and public readings.

Margaret Eddershaw has been doing further fundraising for FIGS through the sales of her poetry books and public readings.

The FIGS London volunteers have been getting their thinking caps on with their first pub quiz in April.

Mount School York Principle and FIGS Trustee Julie Lodrick is ran in the York Marathon

Working with Christ the Saviour School in Ealing, Jacob and Suha Lagu supported a fundraiser in which young students were sponsored to build 'bricks' for Ibba Girls School.

A group of intrepid volunteers took part in the Tower Hamlets Rotary Club Dragon Boat Race on 21st July 2013.

Our marketing partners Totality entered a charity bike ride on behalf on FIGS in July 2014

Edith Galliers, convenor of the FIGS London is a regular runner and decided to set herself the challenge to do two marathons in a month.