Changing Lives at Ibba Girls Boarding School

Dear Friend,

It is a privilege to share this update on the continued progress of Ibba Girls Boarding School (IGBS). Term 1 of the school year began on 2 February and is due to finish on 15 May, with Term 2 scheduled to run from 1 June to 7 September.

We were saddened to receive news from the school community of the passing of the wife of Teacher Uyaka on 25 April. Several staff members travelled to attend the burial, reflecting the close-knit and supportive nature of the IGBS community. Our thoughts are with Mr Uyaka and his family at this difficult time.

As we move further into the school year, the latest results and developments at IGBS continue to reflect both the strength of the school community and the importance of sustained access to girls’ education. Once again, all Primary 8 students who sat the national examinations have been successful, demonstrating high achievement and the commitment of students and staff alike. Demand for places remains very strong, reinforcing the value placed on education by families and the continuing need for opportunity. The photograph above, of students proudly holding pineapples they have grown at the school, is a simple but powerful reflection of this progress — combining learning, practical skills, and the confidence that comes from achievement.

Alongside these academic outcomes, we are encouraged by continued progress across the school — including classroom development, the transition in school leadership and the expansion of scholarship pathways that are helping to train the next generation of female teachers.

This edition also marks an important moment for FIGS, as we share our thanks to Hugh Paget, who has stepped down as a trustee after many years of dedicated service. Hugh has been closely involved with FIGS since its earliest days, and his contribution to the development of the charity has been significant. He will also be remembered for his excellent humour and attention to detail, which brought both warmth and perspective to trustee discussions over the years. Hugh, thank you very much.

In this edition, we share updates from across these areas of work and reflect on the impact being achieved together. I hope you will enjoy reading and seeing the difference your support continues to make.

Very best wishes,
Chris Trott CVO
Chair of FIGS Trustees
His Majesty's Ambassador, Holy See

Ibba Girls Boarding School (IGBS) continues to achieve excellent results in national examinations alongside strong and sustained demand for places, highlighting the ongoing need for access to quality education as the new school year gets underway. 

P8 national examination results for Western Equatoria State were released on 18 March 2026, with all 30 students passing, reflecting sustained academic excellence at the school. 

Alongside this, IGBS has recently completed its Senior 1 “gap-filling” admissions process. “Gap filling” refers to the recruitment of additional students to fill remaining places in Senior 1 after P8 students progress to secondary school. This is a key advantage of having primary and secondary education on the same site, with the same Head Teacher and staff group. 

However, the school continues to lose some students who are unable to move on to secondary school. Some drop out during primary education, most often due to sickness, the cost of travel, or early pregnancy (despite strong preventative efforts by the school, and at a rate significantly lower than the national average). The gap-filling process helps ensure that all available places are fully utilised. 

In total, 73 girls were interviewed for 20 available places, with selection based on merit. The exercise took place on 13 March 2026. As a result, there are now 48 students in Senior 1, with a further two expected to join, strengthening cohort numbers for the new academic year. 

Senior 1 Intake

In addition, in April, IGBS held an open discussion session involving students and staff, creating a space for pupils—particularly those in primary years—to share ideas and suggestions on how to make IGBS an even better place to live and learn. The session was led by school leadership and reflected the school’s ongoing commitment to inclusive dialogue and student voice.

Primary School Open Discussion Session

Construction of a new two-classroom block by Africa Educational Trust, funded through the Girls’ Education South Sudan project as it comes to an end, has also progressed. Foundations were laid in January 2026, with wall construction completed in March. While the project experienced some delays due to challenges in sourcing local materials, these have now been resolved and work is continuing steadily on site. 

The walls of the classroom were put up in March

Windle Trust International (WTI) CEO David Masua and Country Director Loke Justin recently visited Ibba Girls Boarding School (IGBS). The visit formed part of WTI’s ongoing support to the school’s leadership and development.

During their time at IGBS, they met with the senior management team—including the Head Teacher, Deputy Head Teacher, Directors of Studies for primary and secondary, Senior Woman Teacher, and Logistics Assistant—to review progress, discuss key challenges, and reflect on achievements early in the school year. The visit also included discussions with wider school stakeholders on the development of the school farm as part of a longer-term strategy to strengthen sustainability at IGBS.

Following these meetings, WTI confirmed that preparations can now proceed for the UK charity Ripple Effect’s Uganda team of agricultural experts to visit Ibba and Yambio to undertake an agricultural assessment. This will include workshops and discussions with the Ibba community, the Board of Governors, and the Parent Teacher Association, all convening at the school to explore practical approaches to strengthening long-term sustainability.

WTI CEO David Masua and IGBS Senior Leadership Team

Archbishop Samuel Peni has stepped down, and we thank him for his faithful service. We are pleased that Grace Apollo, formerly Deputy Chair, has taken his place. We will profile both of them in our next newsletter.

Archbishop Sameul Peni,
Former IGBS Chair of Trustees

Grace Apollo
IGBS Chair of Trustees

During a recent termly meeting, Head Teacher Rita Akello raised concerns about a damaged section of the school fence, which posed a risk to students, staff, and school resources. The issue was immediately taken up by the Board of Governors with the Parent Teacher Association and presented to the parent general assembly, where parents responded positively and committed to supporting the repair work.

A resolution was agreed for parents to contribute both materials and labour for repairing the fence. The work was subsequently completed through this collective effort by the school community.

This demonstrates the impact of regular governance meetings at IGBS, supported by Windle Trust International. By enabling the PTA, BOG, and SMC to take shared ownership of challenges, these structures strengthen accountability, improve responsiveness, and foster collaboration between the school and parents.

As Emmanuel, BOG Treasurer, explained:

“Our daughters and the lives of everyone in the school are very important to us. I cannot sleep safely at home when the lives of our children and the people in the school are at risk. This is why we decided to repair the fence and are still hopeful that we shall start the perimeter wall too.”

Fence repair by the local community

We are delighted to share an update from the All Saints Scholarships Programme, funded through FIGS by the All Saints Educational Trust and delivered in partnership with Solidarity Teacher Training College (STTC) in Yambio and Ibba Girls Boarding School.

FIGS, STTC and IGBS have a shared commitment to strengthen pathways into teacher training for IGBS school leavers. Six IGBS school leavers have been selected and are currently undertaking their two-year training course at STTC to become qualified primary school teachers.

All six remain fully committed, and early feedback shows they are engaging actively with teaching methods, classroom management, and child-centred learning.

The programme is focused on building a pipeline of qualified female teachers, supporting IGBS school leavers to develop the skills and experience needed to strengthen education in their communities.

We are also preparing for an upcoming Careers Day at IGBS, where current All Saints Scholars will share their experiences and inspire students to consider teaching as a future pathway.

One of these teachers in training is Agness. An IGBS leaver from Mundri West County, she was selected for the programme in 2025. After leaving school, she began teaching at a local nursery school—an experience that confirmed her ambition.

“I saw how dedicated teachers made a difference in the lives of their students,” she explains. “Not just by teaching lessons, but by giving hope and guidance. I want to be that kind of teacher.”

Now training at STTC, Agness is developing her skills in teaching methods, classroom management, and understanding how children learn. She has especially valued her studies in psychology, which she says helps teachers better understand student behaviour.

“Teaching is not just about academics but also about shaping hearts and minds,” she says. “I want to be a role model who encourages love, respect, and kindness.”

Looking ahead, Agness plans to return to her community as a qualified teacher and help improve the quality of education for young learners.

Her journey reflects the wider impact of the programme—supporting IGBS school leavers to take the next step into professional training while helping to build a new generation of skilled, committed teachers.

Prior to a recent visit to the UK Parliament to speak about girls' education in South Sudan, Dr Kuyok Kuyok Abol Kuyok found time to meet Jean Hartley and Tedros Getachew. They also met Daniel Gesaka of Mott MacDonald.

We were also pleased to briefly meet the Ambassador of South Sudan to the United Kingdom, H.E. Nickson D.P. Kuccath, who expressed his support for FIGS and IGBS.

Friends of Ibba Girls School (FIGS) is deeply grateful to Trustee Hugh Paget, who has stepped down after 15 years of dedicated service. Hugh has played a critical role at FIGS since he joined as a trustee in 2011.

Hugh reflects on his involvement with FIGS:

"I have long believed that, when one has more than enough money to cover everyday expenditure, part of the extra should be given to charity. After some rather unsatisfactory experiences with large international charities, I was enormously pleased to become involved in the start of FIGS, through contact with John Benington and Jean Hartley, whom we met in the village of Icomb, where Eleanor and I live. My wife Eleanor agreed that FIGS was a wonderful project to put our money into, not least because she herself is grateful to have been educated to the age of 18, like the Ibba pupils, at a time when many girls in Britain were not, and was able to go on to university. John and Jean got us more into the heart of FIGS by inviting me to become one of the founding trustees in 2011. We have been significant donors ever since.

Other trustees frequently thought I was a lawyer, which I was not really, though my working life was in one area of law. But I hope I have been useful to FIGS in advising and writing on legal questions and drafting documents such as employment contracts and written policies. There was a memorable and crowded dinner in our small London house many years ago when guests included Bridget Nagamoro, who inspired the creation of the Ibba school, Anglican Bishop Wilson of Yambio and the local Roman Catholic priest Father Stephen Kumyangi. We have also hosted fundraising events in our house and garden in Icomb, Eleanor doing all the cooking.

As a trustee I have been lucky to be involved in the inner workings of FIGS and admire the tremendous efforts of other trustees in many different areas of expertise and in visiting and helping the school in Ibba. I have much enjoyed working with the architect Malcolm Worby and the builder Joseph Anzeti, to get the school built.

The school is a magnificent achievement in a country which needs so much help, and flourishes despite many difficulties. It is moving that the girls always seem so happy. I am proud to have taken part."

Hugh Paget (third from the left) with WTI CEO David Masua and FIGS Trustees

Community talks are an important way we continue to grow and strengthen our network of supporters. If you or your community group are able to host one, we would be very pleased to hear from you.

Please contact [email protected] for support and materials.

We were therefore especially grateful to Trustee Julia Sanders and long-term supporter Paul Sanders for giving a talk to the Rugby Rotary Breakfast Club, sharing the story of FIGS and the work taking place in South Sudan. The session was attended by around fifteen members and was very well received, with an engaged discussion and many questions.

Julia and Paul spoke about the context in which IGBS was established, how the school operates today, and the impact of FIGS’ work. The talk proved to be a successful fundraising event, with the Club kindly making a donation following the presentation.

We are very grateful to our wider network of supporters for continuing to share the work of Friends of Ibba Girls School and helping to raise awareness in their communities.

Three FIGS supporters donated this year through ShareGift by converting shares into funds that support girls’ education at Ibba Girls Boarding School.

ShareGift is an independent UK registered charity that specialises in releasing the value from shareholdings. Shares are transferred, pooled, and sold, with proceeds distributed to charitable causes. Donors can nominate FIGS, providing a simple and tax-efficient way to give.

As one donor put it:

“I have donated to ShareGift for a long time and think that it is excellent. It provides a painless one-stop service for the tax-efficient donation of shares and a great way to help fund charitable causes which I want to support. Long may it continue!”

Donating shares through ShareGift can be tax-efficient. For example, a higher-rate taxpayer may claim around £400 in tax relief on a £1,000 donation, while a basic-rate taxpayer may claim around £220.

To make a claim, donors typically include the donation on their Self Assessment tax return and retain supporting documentation. Gifts of shares to charity are not subject to Capital Gains Tax.

We are not able to provide tax advice, and donors should seek guidance where needed. Further information is available via HMRC guidance on giving shares to charity.

Please see the link to ShareGift below.

https://www.sharegift.org/online-donation-form/

Contact ShareGift:
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 0207 930 3737

Not everyone has shares, but anyone can support FIGS in small but valuable ways. When shopping online with hundreds of retailers, you can use easyfundraising to generate free donations for FIGS.

At no cost to you, participating retailers donate a percentage of each purchase. Some retailers also support in-store donations when you pay with a linked card.

From all of us at Friends of Ibba Girls School,

Thank you for reading.

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