Western Equatoria gets new school buildings

16 Oct 2014

Western Equatoria gets new school buildings

16 October 2014 - Hundreds of children in Western Equatoria’s Nzara and Yambio Counties who have been studying under trees will benefit from school facilities provided by UNICEF.

A new four-classroom building for Gangura Primary School in Yambio County was officially handed over today by UNICEF South Sudan Regional Director Jonathan Veitch and Western Equatoria State Governor Bangasi Joseph Bakosoro.

During the handover ceremony, Mr. Vetch said UNICEF had a long-term plan for South Sudan and Western Equatoria in particular to support education by building schools and assisting with teachers’ training.

“(The) 300,000 South Sudanese pounds donated for the new building shows UNICEF’s commitment to support the children of the young nation,” he said, urging parents to send both boys and girls to school.

Governor Bakosoro stressed that education was key to resolving conflict and promoting peace.

In addition, a foundation stone for an eight-classroom building at Zereda Internally Displaced Person’s Nursery and Primary Schools in Nzara County was laid by the governor and UNICEF direction on 14 October.

Once completed, over 500 children at Zereda currently learning under mango trees and open-air grass thatched shelters will have eight new classrooms, thanks to a donation from Japanese Goodwill Ambassador Tetsuko Kuroyanagi.

Bage James, representing Gangura Payam on behalf of the community, said people of the area appreciated UNICEF’s effort and would support the school or any project benefiting the community.