South Sudan
We create prospects in the youngest and one of the least developed countries in the world. Through education and peace work, we are creating opportunities for the future.
Situation
A country in dire need.
The vast majority of South Sudan’s population lives in extreme poverty. Conflicts between local ethnic groups (e.g., cattle rustling) claim hundreds of lives each year. More than 2.4 million people are displaced within the country. Another 2.3 million have fled to neighboring countries.
Schools would create future prospects and stability, but the school enrolment rate in South Sudan is one of the lowest in the world. Only one in three children goes to school and only a fraction complete elementary school. Many teachers have only attended elementary school themselves.
This project provides 850 children with a good education. The children experience the importance of friendship and cohesion across ethnic groups. And they discover that their future lies not in weapons, but in education.
Overview
Last place in the Human Development Index.
At 644,329 km2, South Sudan is more than fifteen times the size of Switzerland.
12 million people live in South Sudan, a good quarter more than in Switzerland.
Last place out of 193 countries in the Human Development Index - Switzerland is in second place.
75% of the population is dependent on humanitarian aid, that is around 9 million people.
99 out of every 1,000 babies die in South Sudan - thirty times as many as in Switzerland.
Vision
Vision: Under the motto “Education Instead of Weapons,” we are committed to ensuring that children and young people in South Sudan can attend school. To this end, we also provide continuing education for teachers. And through peacebuilding activities, we strengthen social cohesion among communities, thereby enabling different ethnic groups to live together peacefully.
Approach
Development through peace and education.
Together with our local partner organization ACROSS, we are committed to good basic education for children and young people and peaceful coexistence among the people in the Jebel Boma region of South Sudan. A certain level of security is necessary for regular lessons to take place and for children to develop healthily. Peacebuilding in the Boma region is therefore an important foundation.
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School education
Education for Teachers and Students
Often, the teachers themselves have only attended elementary school and receive little or no pay. That is why we are providing continuing education to all 35 teachers in the region, especially the 13 teachers at the project’s two partner schools. These 13 teachers receive a salary and one meal per day. A Children’s Rights Committee advocates for children’s rights. And since 2024, the students with the highest grades have been receiving a scholarship to attend secondary school in the city of Kapoeta.
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Functional school infrastructure
Learners should feel comfortable
A basic prerequisite for a good learning environment is a functioning school infrastructure. This is why school buildings in the project area that have been destroyed and are in need of renovation are being renovated. School desks and tables, mats and office chairs are being purchased for the two school centers. And gender-segregated sanitary latrines contribute significantly to well-being and health - especially for girls.
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Peacebuilding
Peace and education belong together
Peace is essential for children and adolescents to be able to attend school. Conversely, education contributes to a more peaceful society. Children, adolescents, adults, and local authorities therefore participate in training sessions to learn how to resolve conflicts nonviolently. Peace committees are formed to help maintain peace and resolve conflicts early on. Their members come from the community. This means they are close to the action and can respond more quickly than government agencies. Young people from different ethnic groups meet regularly in youth forums to discuss the causes of conflict, such as unemployment, poverty, and trauma. The Peace Soccer Tournament brings together about 200 young people from various ethnic communities twice a year. Through play, friendships are formed and patterns of violence that have persisted for generations are broken.
Impact
Every donation changes lives in South Sudan.
96% of students pass the elementary school graduation exam.
This milestone in the students' lives improves basic education in the region and encourages school attendance.
455 young people learned how to resolve conflicts peacefully.
At two youth forums, the young people learned how to resolve conflicts peacefully.
167 people took part in a peace conference.
The participants included young people, local government officials, and community and religious leaders.
News
New stories from South Sudan.
Possibilitieschange lives
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Quality and transparency
Our certificates oblige us to maintain high standards.
We carry out our global aid projects not only with great dedication but also with the highest standards of quality and transparency to ensure your donation has the greatest impact. This is confirmed by various certifications, and through the KoGe umbrella organization, ena is accredited with the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC).
Learn more
Transparency
ZEWO seal of approval
The most established donation seal of approval in Switzerland guarantees that the use of donations at ena is transparent and effective.
Quality
ISO 9001:2015
The ISO 9001:2015 certification attests that our aid organization complies with quality and organizational standards and is constantly developing these further.
Responsibility
CHS Alliance
The CHS Alliance sets global standards for humanitarian aid and development cooperation and monitors compliance with these standards. ena's CHS certification confirms the quality and accountability of our work.
Relevance
SDC
Our long-standing cooperation with the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) as part of the umbrella organization KoGe ensures that we are a professional partner.
About us
Effective emergency aid and development cooperation.
As a relief organization, we provide life-changing opportunities worldwide through effective, straightforward assistance. We are committed to both short- and medium-term emergency aid, as well as long-term development cooperation. Based on mutual respect and an understanding of local needs, we focus primarily on livelihoods, education, health, and peace. The responsible and impactful use of entrusted donations is confirmed by the ZEWO quality seal and our commitment to the standards of the CHS Alliance.
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Our project in a summary document
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South Sudan
Published: September 24, 2026