Investment in Girls’ Education as a Key Contribution to Peace-Making, Truth, Justice, and Reconciliation in South Sudan
Investment in Girls’ Education as a Key Contribution to Peace-Making, Truth, Justice, and Reconciliation in South Sudan
By sr. Henriette Anne
Did you know that Ibba Girls Boarding School (IGBS) is an ecumenical community school for over 360 primary and secondary girls across Western Equatoria State, in South Sudan? it is a Community Where Peace-Making, Truth, Justice, and Reconciliation is Learned and Practised
Furthermore, it is a 100-acre campus community where students and staff live with others from different tribes, faiths, and backgrounds, and where they learn to resolve issues through regular debates and through a peace club.
IGBS aims at providing a safe environment for good quality learning, open and welcoming people of all faiths, and aims to be a beacon of light for good quality primary, secondary, vocational/technical education and training across Western Equatoria.
“The school aims to be a beacon of light for good quality primary, secondary, and vocational/technical education and training across Western Equatoria State and eventually the whole of South Sudan, to provide a safe environment for good quality teaching and learning, open and welcoming to people of all faiths and none, a loving home from home in which students can live, study and play, protected from the conflict and trauma which many have experienced or witnessed in their villages”, the letter reads.
The IGBS community practiced peace-making, truth, justice, and reconciliation in 3 ways;
“Learning to Know – through the academic curriculum, girls are given the opportunity to use their literacy and numeracy skills as tools to acquire knowledge and understanding of the world around them. The ability to understand, question, and challenge preconceived ideas. Peace studies is a cross-cutting theme underpinning every aspect of the syllabus, as well as through specific topics studied as part of the social studies curriculum in both primary and secondary school.
Through Learning to ‘Do’ – All students take part in a wide range of co-curricular activities. Through regular Friday afternoon debates, in the election of their prefects and student leaders, and by representing the school in events in the community, students develop confidence in speaking to an audience and listening to other points of view. Opportunities are given to learn skills such as agriculture, nutrition, health, tailoring, sports, music and drama. IGBS students leave school with the knowledge and practical skills to support and lead their local communities and become independent, productive members of society.
Through Learning to Live Together - IGBS students come with many different backgrounds and life experiences. By living together 24 hours a day and 7 days a week, they learn the social skills necessary for living and working together collaboratively; being understanding and caring of those with different viewpoints; having empathy, tolerance, and a willingness to be adaptable; to see the importance of working as a team and putting the needs of others and the wider community above individual interests and personal desires.
The IGBS motto is “sharing the light of wisdom”. This is the precious gift that girls from IGBS contribute to practical peace-making in their communities and in their country.
IGBS has been described as an “inspiring parable of what peace looks like at the grass-roots, in the daily experiences of those whose lives have been torn apart by conflict, trauma, famine, hunger, poverty, and malnutrition”.
The letter further reads that “peace, justice, and reconciliation cannot be achieved by written statements of intent alone but it can be tricked down from above that depends upon practical detailed actions to transform basic institution like schools, and changed daily behaviours in families, communities, churches, and government at all levels”.
IGBS was set in existence 10 years ago.
