- FIGS Trustees are delighted to announce Chris Trott has agreed to take on the role of Chair of FIGS with immediate effect. Chris Trott, who is currently British Ambassador to the Holy See in Rome is well known to many from his role as British Ambassador to South Sudan, between 2019 and 2021. The UK government at that time was the second largest development partner in South Sudan and Chris worked closely with the United Nations and other international partners like UNICEF and Save the Children in support of the fragile peace process. He also worked closely with South Sudan government officials in the design and delivery of the Girls’ Education for South Sudan (GESS) programme, where he first got to hear about FIGS and Ibba Girls Boarding School (IGBS).
- Chris Trott is convinced of the value of girls education as a crucial investment in the future leadership of South Sudan, and has long admired the pioneering work done by FIGS and Ibba Girls’ Boarding School over its first 10 years. At his interview with FIGS Trustees he said that "Despite a global commitment to girls’ education enshrined in the UN Sustainable Development Goals, there are still too many countries around the world in which this ambition is a long way from being met – either because of conflict and displacement or because of a lack of prioritisation by the government or society in the country concerned. South Sudan is one such country – where years of civil strife have stolen the futures of generations of girls. The impact of this injustice is not limited to the sphere of education – a girl who remains out of school is less aware of her fundamental rights, more likely to be subjected to early/forced marriage and ultimately is less able to play a role in building a fairer and more peaceful society."
- Chris looks forward to visiting South Sudan and the school together with other FIGS Trustees, and to meeting IGBS Trustees, governors, PTA, staff and other stakeholders, including Windle Trust International (WTI) whom FIGS has commissioned to act as their agents and partners in South Sudan, in order to strengthen the African governance, leadership and management of IGBS for the next phase of its development.
- In addition to welcoming Chris Trott as FIGS new Chair, and Sarah Harding as FIGS new Treasurer, FIGS are also recruiting a senior professional fundraising consultant. The aim is to double existing capacity to implement FIGS fundraising strategy, to accelerate our action plan, and to generate additional fundraising opportunities from the corporate and philanthropic sectors as well as from our existing and new networks of organisations, groups and individuals. FIGS relational fundraising approach has been remarkably successful over the past 10 years, but now needs an extra boost to keep pace with the rising costs of providing good quality boarding school education for 360 primary and secondary girls in one of the most war weary and traumatised countries in the world.
- FIGS Trustees also put on record once again their warm thanks to outgoing Chair David Lewis for his 4 years of loyal service in this role.
Dave Lewis said:
"Being Chair of FIGS has been a tremendous privilege and an enriching experience. It is after much soul-searching that I have decided to retire after nearly four years in the role so that I can give more time to my close family and other commitments. The role of FIGS Chair has been both demanding and rewarding. It has been a joy to see the school grow to full size, and then for the first two cohorts to complete their secondary education. I will be working alongside the other FIGS Trustees to ensure a smooth transition to my distinguished successor Chris Trott. I have the utmost confidence that the FIGS Board of Trustees and the community of generous FIGS donors will ensure a sustainable future for Ibba Girls' Boarding School. We have seen how good education can have a transformational impact for the girl students, their families, their communities, and for the young nation of South Sudan and I look forward to watching this continue as a loyal supporter of FIGS."
Chris Trott said:
"Five years working on and in South Sudan have shown me just how much difference educating girls can make – both in the local context and at the level of national politics. And in that time I became a committed fan of those institutions that were trying to buck the trend. Ibba Girls Boarding School is among the best examples of such an institution, recognised as such not just by education specialists and donors, but by the government and most importantly by the community itself. The dedication the Trustees have shown to their model, and the careful way they have gradually expanded the school, while maintaining incredibly high standards of education and supporting the commitment of the staff, has earned the respect of the Minister of Education, and of the leadership team in the Ministry. The Minister has told me herself how much she admires the work, and ethos, of the school, and expressed an ambition to see this replicated elsewhere in the country. A wonderful achievement for a school that is even younger than the country in which it sits! During my time in South Sudan I always admired the work of the school and its board, and sought to support their engagement with the government, although sadly I was never able to visit the school itself. I also got to know Windle Trust International. So this opportunity to help take this incredible school into its next phase, ensuring it has a sustainable basis on which to deliver its Strategic Plan on a Page, in partnership with Windle, is something I am thrilled to be able to do. It will be a real honour to invest some of my own time and energy in support of this incredible school."
Media contact: [email protected], 00 44 (0)7500 773010
FIGS website: www.friendsofibba.org
Chris Trott: [email protected]
Pictured above, left to right: David Masua (CEO, Windle Trust International), Rosalind Marsden, Hugh Paget & Jean Hartley (FIGS Trustees), Chris Trott (FIGS Chair of Trustees), Jeannie Simpson (FIGS Volunteer Secretary), Sarah Harding (FIGS Treasurer). They were joined online by Julia Sanders and Margaret Eddershaw (FIGS Trustees), and the photo was taken by Jonathan Martin (FIGS Administrator).
