Description

Having a great teacher helps children engage with school and learn to their full potential. This gift provides teachers with support and training to help them inspire the next generation!

How your gift helps

Access to education is a powerful tool in helping people reach their God-given potential. And in places where it’s difficult to attend or stay in school, a quality teacher can make all the difference. By investing in the development of skilled and passionate teachers in Rumbek East, central South Sudan, TEAR’s partner Across is seeing the exciting ways in which education is transforming the region.

This project works to support the government education system by addressing the shortage of teachers in school classrooms. There are sometimes only 1 or 2 government-supported teachers posted to a school, and Across is helping to fill the gaps and provide additional teachers by taking local people like Moses (pictured) through a fast-track training program. This training equips them in lesson planning, classroom management skills, assessment and evaluation, and how to effectively use teaching methods and resources. Across has also recently added a life skills component developed specifically for the region, covering issues such as gender-based violence and the importance of girls’ education. Parent-Teacher Associations contribute to the teacher salaries, sometimes in kind rather than money, but this community ownership is both a source of encouragement and accountability for the teachers.

To further encourage communities in prioritising girls’ education, Across also helps to place a 'School Mother' in every school. These women are respected community members and are strong advocates for the education of girls, playing a valuable role in the absence of female teachers. The School Mothers follow up with girls when they don’t attend school, and chat with parents to encourage them to support their daughters’ education.

Since working in the area, student retention rates and enrolment of girls have increased, and Across' teacher training program is highly regarded for the way it is mobilising and empowering the community to participate in education. While many aspects of life are complicated and uncertain for people living in South Sudan, strengthening teachers and school communities is building a more hopeful future in places like Rumbek East. As one graduating teacher, Samuel, says, "We appreciate Across for motivating us by giving us the professional skills required to deliver lessons effectively. We will go back to our communities and put into practice this knowledge and skills for the good of our school children and our nation."

About our partner

Across, a TEAR partner for over 30 years, is an interdenominational Christian organisation formed in 1972. Across works in partnership with local churches and communities throughout South Sudan to improve education and health and to strengthen communities, using training programs and local resources to respond to the root causes of the challenges facing South Sudan, from the perspective of those most affected. Across takes a biblically based holistic approach, responding to the whole person and whole community, to create meaningful relationships and authentic change.

What you receive

• Choose from a Printed Card, Download & Print (PDF), E-card, or No card.
• Links to Download & Print (PDF) and E-cards are emailed to you after checkout.
• The amount you have donated will not be on the card.
• Printed cards:
  • A blank envelope for your card.
  • Free standard postage within Australia (5-7 working days) or $6 for Express Post (2-3 working days). Express Post cards will normally be sent the same day if the order is made before 1:30pm AEST. Please note: Express Post only operates in these areas within Australia.
  • Note: We cannot ship printed cards outside Australia (but you can still order the digital cards).
  • Note: We do NOT write on your cards — they are delivered to you to personalise.
• A tax-deductible receipt.