A Pen, A Notebook, A Future: A young girl’s dream in South Sudan

For many children in Upper Nile State, going to school is not just about learning. It is about overcoming barriers. For 13-year-old Nyanyau, one of those barriers was as simple and as critical as having a pen and an exercise book.

In communities where families face deep economic hardship, even the most basic school materials can be out of reach. For girls like Nyanyau, this often means missing classes or falling behind—not because they lack the will to learn, but because they lack the tools to do so.

Through the European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO)-funded Education in Emergencies (EiE) Project, World Vision, in partnership with War Child and the Humanitarian and Development Consortium, is helping change that reality. Across Baliet County, more than 3,439 learners (1,654 boys and 1,785 girls) have received essential scholastic materials, ensuring that children, especially girls and those from vulnerable families, can stay in school and continue learning.

“I am very happy to receive new school materials from World Vision,” says Nyanyau. “My parents could not afford to buy them because they have no source of income. Sometimes, I missed school because I had no exercise book or pen.”

With the support she received, Nyanyau can now attend school regularly and focus better in class. The burden on her family has eased, and in its place, a renewed sense of motivation has taken root.

“I want to become a teacher in the future so that I can help other children learn, just like my teachers help me,” she says with a smile.

For Emmanuel Awori, Project Manager for the ECHO-funded Education in Emergencies and Child Protection Project, education remains one of the most powerful ways to protect children during times of crisis.

“By providing essential learning materials, we remove one of the biggest barriers that prevent children, especially girls, from attending school. Supporting families like Nyanyau’s ensures that no child is left behind due to poverty.”