The SolarSPELL initiative is excited to provide some updates on the distance learning project currently being facilitated in South Sudan, with the help of our in-field partner EmpowerKids-South Sudan.
The facilitators who were trained this summer, traveled to eight different areas of the Juba Municipality, where in a period of just two weeks, they were able to assist just over 9400 students, in addition to parents and teachers, with downloading 14,350 offline resources from the SolarSPELL onto their personal devices.
This project has been incredibly successful to-date and came at the right time when many South Sudanese primary and secondary aged school children were forced to remain home as the schools were closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In the two week period documented, 4,829 primary textbooks, 7,989 secondary textbooks, and 1,532 other supplementary educational resources were downloaded. We are so happy that the SolarSPELL initiative was able to provide so many students with the opportunity to access resources that they may not have been able to otherwise.
In the update from our in-field partner, we received overwhelmingly positive feedback from the community including teachers, parents and even the Ministry of General Education and Instruction.
“The digital library resource materials are handy and critical for learning and teaching and will greatly contribute to the success of the project.” via email from Mark Simiyu Barasa; Inspire Children
“…. they will be of great help to me as an education officer and students around me as well as my colleagues teachers.” via email from Mayen Reuben Deng, Education Officer, C&D, Twic East County, Jonglei State.
“……. talk about this amazing job of Digital Library which you are doing in this time of Covid 19 pandemic.” from Roger Alfred Yoron Modi, Producer and Host of the Weekly Review.
“This is one kind of intervention to set precedence for other educational programs to follow….”. via Facebook from Mr. Nelson H.; Director General for Basic and Secondary Education, Ministry of General Education and Instruction
We’re so excited for the success of this project with the help of EmpowerKids-South Sudan and are so grateful that the SolarSPELL digital libraries are being used to help students continue learning during this difficult time.
Check back soon for another update!
