Growing futures through learning and partnerships

Dear Friend,

As the school year continues at IGBS, this edition brings you stories illustrating both the progress and critical issues that still shape girls' education in South Sudan.

At IGBS, education aims to equip girls with knowledge, practical skills, and pathways towards professional careers. This edition features the recent inaugural Careers Day at IGBS – a collaboration between Solidarity Teacher Training College in Yambio and IGBS. Six IGBS school leavers, now training as teachers, returned for Careers Day to encourage current students to consider teaching and further education.

In South Sudan, many parents still face difficult choices about educating their daughters. Hayat, a parent, shares the dilemma she faced and what gave her the confidence to send her daughter, Maria, to IGBS.

Beyond the school, on 17th September, we held an online webinar on Peacebuilding in South Sudan and the Power of Education. We were delighted to have Hon. Pia Philip Michael, Undersecretary in South Sudan's Ministry of Peacebuilding, as our guest speaker. Pia explored the role of education in building peaceful, resilient communities and creating a more hopeful future for South Sudan.

We also recognise Ed Broom, who has been involved with FIGS for many years, including visiting the school in 2014. Ed shares what volunteering with FIGS means to him and the lasting connection it has created.

Finally, we are pleased to report a £10,000 unrestricted grant from Haramead Trust, alongside two recent donations through Giveacar, a way through which supporters turn unwanted vehicles into donations. Sustaining education for more than 320 girls at IGBS requires continuous financial support, and we are grateful for these contributions.

There is much happening at IGBS and across FIGS, but our purpose remains clear: to keep girls learning, strengthen the education they receive and open opportunities beyond school.

Thank you for the many ways you continue to support this work.

I hope you enjoy this edition.

Very best wishes,

Chris Trott CVO
Chair of FIGS Trustees

On 15th August, the collaboration between IGBS and Solidarity Teacher Training College (STTC) in Yambio produced the first Careers Day for secondary school students, their parents and the community. Six IGBS school leavers returned to IGBS, this time to inspire more girls to pursue further education and careers in teaching. The six young women are training as teachers at STTC under the All Saints scholarship programme, which FIGS obtained specifically for IGBS school leavers.

The Careers Day brought together current students, school leavers who are training at STTC, teachers, parents and members of the local community. The six school leavers shared their experiences of life after IGBS, why they chose teaching and what they are learning through their current training.

FIGS is grateful to All Saints Educational Trust for funding the scholarships and to STTC for providing the teacher training. The careers day was an opportunity for current students to hear directly from six young women who had once sat in the same classrooms and are now training for their future careers.

Look out for our upcoming article celebrating World Teachers’ Day on 5th October.

Before Maria could enrol at IGBS, her mother, Hayat, had to make a challenging decision.

For many families in South Sudan, educating a daughter is not straightforward. Parents worry about their daughters' safety, long journeys to school, and the cost of education. Many also depend on girls to help with household chores and care for younger siblings and other relatives. These pressures help explain why girls remain less likely than boys to attend secondary school. South Sudan's 2023 National Education Census recorded only 80 girls in secondary school for every 100 boys.

For Hayat, sending Maria to IGBS meant letting her live away from home for the first time. She was unsure whether her daughter was ready for such a change.

Those fears eased after she spoke with other parents and IGBS school leavers. Their experiences, together with the school's reputation for discipline and academic performance, gave her confidence. As Hayat says:

"I decided to apply for a place at IGBS. I started encouraging my daughter to study hard so she could pass the selection interviews."

Maria joined IGBS in Primary 4 and is now in Primary 5. Since then, Hayat has watched her grow in confidence and responsibility. During holidays, Maria helps her younger brother with reading, writing, and English. She also takes an active role at Sunday School and speaks confidently in public.

"I am very grateful for the work the staff of IGBS are doing in the lives of our daughters. I encourage other parents to consider IGBS for educating their girls," Hayat says.

For Hayat, choosing education was an investment that is already yielding rewards for Maria and her family.

On Thursday 17 September, FIGS held an online webinar, Peacebuilding in South Sudan and the Power of Education, with Hon. Pia Philip Michael, Undersecretary in South Sudan’s Ministry of Peacebuilding, as guest speaker.

The webinar brought together 43 participants, including FIGS supporters, partners and representatives of trusts and foundations, for a discussion that ranged from the role of education in building peaceful societies to the integration of technology in education.

Drawing on his experience in education, governance and peacebuilding, Pia explored how education can prevent conflict, promote social cohesion, and challenge stereotypes. He spoke about the importance of children from different communities learning together, developing respect for other cultures, religions and opinions, and building friendships that can last into adulthood.

He illustrated how former classmates may be more willing to listen to one another and seek peaceful solutions because of the bonds they established when they were young. IGBS serves as an example as it brings together girls from different communities, cultures and religious backgrounds across Western Equatoria State.

Pia also noted that education helps a person sift information from misinformation, which is increasingly important as the influence of social media and AI grows.

One of Pia’s most thought-provoking reflections was that education 'gives people something to lose', which makes them embrace peace and social cohesion. Pia argued that when people have little to lose in life, they may be more willing to make risky choices. Education, by contrast, gives people skills, opportunities and something they value and want to protect.

This is relevant in the context of South Sudan, where young people face severe challenges, including poverty and limited employment opportunities, which can heighten the risk of conflict. At the same time, several organisations including UNESCO have found an association between higher levels of education and a lower prevalence of conflict.

The discussion that followed brought questions from participants about boarding education in South Sudan, teacher training and cross-national learning, which can help young people learn from others and build friendships across borders.

FIGS Vice Chair, Jean Hartley, also presented an update on IGBS, highlighting the school’s progress and its work to help girls continue from primary through secondary education.

This was an engaging evening that gave supporters the opportunity to meet one another, get to know FIGS staff and Trustees, and reflect together on empowering girls at IGBS, all from the comfort of their homes.

FIGS thanks Hon. Pia Philip and everyone who joined and contributed to the discussion. FIGS will hold another online engagement, a Big Give Christmas party on Wednesday 2nd December, from 7.30 pm to 9.00 pm (UK Time). We will share further details nearer the time and hope you will be able to join us.

FIGS is pleased to release its 2025 Annual Report and Accounts which provides an overview of our work, achievements and finances during the year. This report goes to the Charity Commission which oversees UK charities.

Despite a difficult fundraising environment and the continuing challenges in South Sudan, FIGS supported IGBS to provide full boarding primary and secondary education to 325 girls, while strengthening the school’s infrastructure and governance. The diagram below shows a breakdown of FIGS’ expenditure during 2025.

The full report provides further detail on our income and expenditure, the progress made at IGBS and FIGS, and our priorities for the years ahead.

Thank you to all our supporters, donors, partners, and volunteers whose generosity made this work possible throughout 2025. Our thanks also go to Tosin Adegun, a Chartered Public Finance Accountant, for being the Independent Examiner who scrutinised our accounts and the full report.

What difference can volunteering make?

For Ed Broom, it has led to a lasting connection with FIGS. Having first visited IGBS at its official opening in 2014, Ed has remained closely connected to FIGS, supporting our communications and editing this very newsletter for several years.

On June 15th, Ed went a step further, spending a full day volunteering with FIGS and bringing his communications and digital expertise to bear. He carried out a detailed review of the FIGS website and newsletter, identifying ways to improve how we engage with supporters, and mapped out user journeys for newsletter subscribers to help make their experience clearer and more engaging.

It was a valuable opportunity to step back, look at our communications through a fresh pair of eyes, and identify practical ways to strengthen our digital engagement.
Here, he reflects on what volunteering has meant to him and why giving even a little of your time can make a lasting difference.

A lasting connection with FIGS

"I was lucky enough to be part of the team on the ground at the school’s official opening back in 2014, and FIGS has had a special place in my heart ever since. It’s been a privilege to see that first group of girls – and many since – grow, learn and graduate, despite what sometimes feels like constant challenges facing girls’ education and stability in South Sudan.

"One memory from Ibba has stayed with me more than any other. I remember the girls singing a song, with lyrics I’ve never forgotten:

“Ibba Girls of South Sudan, we share the light of education. Working with the pen and hoe, creating leaders for tomorrow.

"That idea of the 'light of education' had a profound effect on me back as a fresh-faced 18-year-old, seeing first-hand how much these girls valued the opportunity to learn. Their example has led me never to take the privilege of education for granted and even inspired me to pursue a master's degree in social anthropology, focusing on understanding the complexities of South Sudan’s past and the long road towards peace.

"I recently spent a day volunteering with FIGS, and it brought everything full circle. Over the years I’ve stayed connected in different ways - editing this very newsletter and helping where I could (I still can’t separate December from both Christmas and The Big Give Challenge). These days I work in communications, and I was keen to offer some of that experience to FIGS’ small but mighty - and incredibly passionate - team.

"Even in just one day, it was a powerful reminder of the dedication behind the scenes. The work FIGS is doing continues to create meaningful opportunities for girls in Ibba, supported by a team whose commitment and passion are clear in everything they do.

"If you’re reading this, I’d encourage you to think about how you might be able to offer some of your time. Volunteering can take many forms, and even a small contribution - an hour, an afternoon, a day - can make a real difference.

"Because that 'light of education' the girls sang about all those years ago still shines - and every bit of support helps keep it burning brighter for the next generation."

Ed Broom during his visit to IGBS in 2014

Do you or anyone you know have an unwanted car?

If so, there is a simple way to turn it into support for FIGS. Giveacar helps people donate unwanted cars, turning them into funds for a charity of their choice. Whether your vehicle is roadworthy or no longer running, it can help make a difference. The service is free and available across the UK.

How it works:

Contact Giveacar by phone (0207 736 4242) or through their website (click the button below).
They arrange collection of the vehicle at no cost to you.
Depending on its condition, the vehicle is either recycled responsibly or sold through a salvage auction.
The proceeds are donated to the charity of your choice.

This approach is already making a difference. Two supporters have already used Giveacar to donate unwanted vehicles to FIGS. We’re very grateful for their support and for finding such a creative way to help the girls at IGBS.

By John Benington

Jean (Hartley) and I were honoured to attend the celebration of Mike’s (Michael Paget-Wilkes) life and work in Cirencester on 5th May 2026.

We remember Mike with deep gratitude and respect for his long-standing commitment to East Africa and South Sudan. His contribution to the early journey of IGBS is even more memorable.

In 2008, Mike visited South Sudan with Archbishop Rowan Williams during a period when the country was preparing for independence. At that time, many leaders, including the clergy, expressed a need for practical skills to help build the new nation, alongside spiritual and institutional support. Mike responded with action.

He used his experience and networks very well, and introduced Jean and me to various leaders in South Sudan. He encouraged us to share our knowledge and experience in governance and leadership. This led to a series of voluntary visits to Juba, where we engaged with government officials, church leaders, and emerging institutions. Mike joined us on our first visit and introduced us to many leaders including the Vice President, Riek Machar.

During one of these early visits, we met Bridget Nagomoro, who by then was working with the government. Bridget shared her vision of establishing a girls’ boarding school in Ibba. That conversation marked the beginning of what would later grow into IGBS.

Mike’s contribution was not only in ideas, but in connection, trust, and encouragement. His name remains closely linked to the early foundation of IGBS, and his legacy lives on in the lives of the girls educated at IGBS, and in the communities they are helping to build.

May we continue to remember Mike’s contribution and celebrate the lasting difference he made in the lives of so many young women.

Reverend Michael Paget-Wilkes
Dec 11th, 1941 – April 9th, 2026

From all of us at Friends of Ibba Girls School - thank you for reading and for your continued support.