La Salle School Rumbek
Sustainability Project
South Sudan is one of the youngest countries in the world. After decades of civil war, the country looks to rebuild. Part of this national plan includes education. South Sudan has the third lowest literacy rate in the world. Designated a ‘Beyond the Borders’ project by the De La Salle Brothers, La Salle School Rumbek was established primarily for South Sudanese youth who have no means of furthering their education beyond primary school. Additionally, the school serves young people at-risk of educational exclusion within Rumbek County, Lake State, and South Sudan at large.
In March, 2018, La Salle Boys School, Rumbek began. Interest in the school was extremely high. Initially, because of limited space, only 20% of students who applied were able to attend. As the school campus has completed construction, it has increased enrollment from 73 students in 2019 to 280 today with plans for further expansion to accommodate 640 students in the future. Last year, La Salle School Rumbek graduated 23 students and the school reported that 100% of students passed the national examinations! More details about La Salle School, Rumbek, can be found here.
A generous Australian family donated funds to the Lasallian Foundation for use in an African Lasallian educational project. Together with donations from elsewhere in the world, the Lasallian Foundation partnered with the La Salle Foundation based in Rome to provide funding for a small agricultural project at the school. Students also learn life skills who do not belong to their culture. These young South Sudanese contribute to the development of the garden as a twofold strategy both to enhance the food production for the school and to let them take the responsibility to foster the garden, learning about agriculture which in their traditional culture is a women’s task. The project increases the school’s sustainability by reducing its dependence on external suppliers.
