Girls With Books! represents the merger of two grass roots non-profits that support education in South Sudan. Girls With Books! and its two predecessor organizations have achieved amazing results in South Sudan for nearly 20 years - building rural schools and educating hundreds of South Sudanese girls. South Sudan has one of the lowest female literacy rates in the world and educating girls is a key component to making South Sudan a peaceful, prosperous democracy. I believe the success of GWB! (and its predecessors) is due in large part to its indigenous leadership by South Sudanese refugees who understand the realities and needs in their former country. The work GWB! is difficult but vital and very worthy of support.
PES has financed three schools in rural villages in southern Sudan. It works in partnership with the villagers themselves and promotes a sustainable model in which the Sudanese themselves take a leading role. PES emphasizes the inclusion of girls in the opportunities it promotes and takes steps, such as providing grinding mills, which free up the girls from their domestic chores so they can go to school. PES now has a representative on the ground in Sudan to monitor construction, etc. PES has significant connections in southern Sudan which allow it to successfully deliver services in a country where years of civil war have destroyed any infrastructure. Southern Sudan is perhaps the neediest country on earth when it comes education. PES is doing the best work out there in this area.