SSD 28 - SUPPORT FOR KOOTH COMBONI KINDERGARTEN

Cueibet is located in Lakes State, which has a very low level of education, the worst of all districts in a country that has an 85% illiteracy rate and where girls have the least chance of finishing school.

Cueibet is a place that is still very much affected by Dinka cultural practices which do not encourage young children to go to school. Men still marry many wives and produce many children and in most cases, the responsibility of bringing up the children is left for women. Since most of these women are illiterate and have no sources of income. A number of children end up in the cattle camps in street vending or are left at home to take care of younger siblings.

Kooth Comboni is a kindergarten located in the premises of the Teacher Training College of the Jesuit community. The main objective of this school is to offer quality education and human training to the young people of the Dinka Gok community in which we live, as well as to provide an opportunity for the College's student teachers to practise teaching.

The kindergarten was started in 2020 and the school just got new permanent classrooms with the help of donors. The ages of children range from 4-8 years old currently there are 180 children in the school. Unfortunately, the parents refused to pay school fees for them. They claimed that they ought to pay for the big children not for the small ones. Therefore, we had to fix a very small amount as school fees. This amount is insufficient to pay a decent salary to the teachers and to run the school.

We also have two cooks and one cleaner. The teaching staff include 2 female and 2 male teachers. The project is important because when the children have food at school they will be motivated to go to school and also concentrate well. In addition, teachers will be motivated if they have a decent salary and adequate teaching and learning resources. The parents will contribute with little school fees and firewood for cooking.

• To motivate children and increase their level of attention in class
• To provide a conducive environment for learning
• To improve the standard of living of the teachers and so motivate them

Direct: 180 children and 4 teachers

Indirect: the families and the community

Referent sister for the project: Sr. Pollina Asikuru