Friends of Ibba Girls School

We’re delighted to welcome Chris Trott (British Ambassador to the #HolySee) as the new Chair of FIGS Trustees! Chris is well known to many from his role as British Ambassador to #SouthSudan between 2019 and 2021, when he worked closely with the United Nations, UNICEF, Save the Children International and others in support of the fragile peace process. He worked closely with South Sudan government officials in the design and delivery of the Girls’ Education for South Sudan (GESS) programme, where he first got to hear about FIGS and Ibba Girls' Boarding School (IGBS). Chris is pictured here (3rd from right) with some of the FIGS Trustees and Windle Trust International CEO David Masua. FIGS has appointed David and Windle Trust International to act as our agents and partners in South Sudan. “Five years working on and in South Sudan have shown me just how much difference educating girls can make,” Chris said, “both in the local context and at the level of national politics. And in that time, I became a committed fan of those institutions that were trying to buck the trend. Ibba Girls' Boarding School is among the best examples of such an institution, recognised as such not just by education specialists and donors, but by the government and most importantly by the community itself. This opportunity to help take this incredible school into its next phase, ensuring it has a sustainable basis on which to deliver its Strategic Plan on a Page, in partnership with @WindleTrust is something I am thrilled to be able to do.” FIGS Trustees also put on record once again their warm thanks to outgoing Chair David Lewis for his 4 years of loyal service in this role. “Being Chair of FIGS has been a tremendous privilege and an enriching experience,” Dave said. “It is after much soul-searching that I have decided to retire after nearly four years in the role so that I can give more time to my close family and other commitments. The role of FIGS Chair has been both demanding and rewarding. It has been a joy to see the school grow to full size, and then for the first two cohorts to complete their secondary education. I will be working alongside the other FIGS Trustees to ensure a smooth transition to my distinguished successor Chris Trott. I have the utmost confidence that the FIGS Board of Trustees and the community of generous FIGS donors will ensure a sustainable future for Ibba Girls' Boarding School.” Read the full media release here: https://lnkd.in/eq89Q2uR. 

Could you help us win £1,000 for #girlseducation in #SouthSudan? Head here to nominate us: https://lnkd.in/g-DnwpSP

Together, we can provide girls with a good education and empower young women to lead vital #development and #peacebuilding in #SouthSudan – young women like Nancy Simon Sebit, Mary Repent and Seba Nakido Emmanuel. And if you become a regular donor today, your gifts will get DOUBLED by #matchfunding for the first 12 months, meaning twice the impact for #girlseducation. https://lnkd.in/e39SEgA4

Do you know someone who would make a good Chair of Trustees for our UK charity supporting #girlseducation in #SouthSudan – where few girls get education beyond the age of 10? Knowledge and/or experience of #Africa and/or #fundraising will be valuable. This voluntary role is highly rewarding, directly empowering girls for leadership, benefiting their communities, and inspiring an uplift in school education across this newest country in the world (independent since 2011). Take a look at the information pack and do get in touch with any questions. #internationaldevelopment #chairoftrustees

Huge congratulations to Jake Lyne for completing the #LondonMarathon yesterday, and in good time (3hrs 48mins, the 10th GB runner in his age group). We're so thankful to Jake for choosing to champion Ibba Girls' Boarding School this year, raising money for #girlseducation in #SouthSudan. Please add your congratulations with a donation to Jake's fundraising page here! https://lnkd.in/eFVRWn7X

Jake (a.k.a. Kenneth) Lyne is running in the #LondonMarathon on Sunday and raising funds towards Ibba Girls' Boarding School! Help cheer him on by donating here: https://lnkd.in/eFVRWn7X Best of luck, Jake! #girlseducation #SouthSudan

Catch up on the latest from FIGS and IGBS in our April newsletter here: https://lnkd.in/erMh-ce4 #girlseducation #internationaldevelopment #SouthSudan #matchfunding

Words are powerful. Reading and writing are vital to the empowerment of women and girls in #SouthSudan, where an estimated 71% of women are illiterate. Ibba Girls' Boarding School is helping to change the narrative. Can you join with us this #WorldPoetryDay to support #girlseducation? And to mark the day, here a piece by FIGS Trustee Margaret Eddershaw, inspired by an IGBS away game... ----- GAME ON, GIRLS! Friendly match between eager girls keenly taking on the beautiful game: our team in flash fluorescent boots; the local priest ready on the whistle. Our coach, Agnes, screams loudly supporters with muddy toes press to imaginary sidelines as they shout and jump at every misfired kick. Many talk of Africa’s ‘own goals’ but all these keen young women tackle every disadvantage in life they are fleet of foot as antelopes across their uneven playing field passing fiercely to and from others between the misaligned goalposts, shoot for that distant winning score. ----- (Discover more poetry inspired by IGBS in the FIGS shop: https://lnkd.in/ePRNinyT - thank you!)

Here's a personal video message from FIGS Chair David Lewis on the importance of #girlseducation for #SouthSudan: https://lnkd.in/et_EYpTB Plus, #matchfunding is still available for regular donations. Discover how you can #StandUpForGirls here: https://lnkd.in/e5M-qfFJ

Help continue the Ibba Girls' School story by making the most of #matchfunding! Any new regular donation will get doubled for the first 12 months. Discover more: https://lnkd.in/e5M-qfFJ #girlseducation #SouthSudan #WriteTheFuture #StandUpForGirls