The Valentino Achak Deng Foundation

Since its opening in 2018, Alok Girls’ Academy (AGA), located in Aweil, South Sudan, has been a beacon of light for girls’ education in the Northern Bahr el Gazal state in South Sudan. This Giving Tuesday, our goal is to raise $20,000 to support our students and their education. All donations made on Giving Tuesday will go directly to educating our students and the cost of their education (school supplies such as books, notebooks, pens, school lunches, uniforms, etc.) as well as dignity packs and proper health and hygiene supplies.

You can make a difference by donating today to The Valentino Achak Deng Foundation and our mission of bringing quality educational opportunities to our communities in South Sudan. Your support is greatly appreciated!

The VAD Foundation was established as a result of the book What Is The What by Dave Eggers, a novelized version of the life and hardships of Valentino Achak Deng, a Lost Boy of Sudan. The organization focuses on empowering children, youth, and women in South Sudan by providing educational opportunities through sustainable initiatives, such as traditional education, farming, and vocational training.

 

Giving Tuesday, on November 30, 2021, is a global generosity movement that unleashes the power of people and organizations to transform our communities and our world. This Giving Tuesday, the VAD Foundation is fundraising to supply our female students with "dignity packs".  Dignity packs include sanitary towels and soap for our female students, which have been shown to increase school attendance, retention, and academic performance. Access to these items is a great challenge and many girls go to extreme measures to acquire them. Providing these items to our female students will limit the disruption in their learning and encourage them to stay in school. 

This Giving Tuesday, we are also fundraising for IT equipment and basic school supplies for our students. IT connectivity is logistically challenging in rural South Sudan, but by providing our students and teachers with connectivity, computers, projectors, and items such as books, notebooks, desks, backpacks, and basic school supplies we will enhance our students' experiences through learning in and out of the classroom.

By donating, you will be helping us bring quality education to the rural communities of South Sudan and changing the lives of our students!

 

To learn more about The VAD Foundation, and the incredible, moving story of Valentino Achak Deng visit: http://www.vadfoundation.org/