Preschoolers have their own soccer team and child-friendly spaces at Ajuong Thok refugee camp in the Unity state, South Sudan. As part of Lutheran World Federation-run education efforts, young children learn the alphabet and their first English words through songs and play. Many of their mothers, who never went to school, say their children teach them the letters and English songs at home.


Te LWF is the sole implementer of education at Ajuong


Tok. Tere are more than 2,400 students in three primary schools; 1,200 in one secondary school; and 1,800 in the Accelerated Learning Program. ALP is designed for over- age learners who missed out on primary school basics due to conflict and displacement. For every one teacher, there are 70 to 100 students. Intended to house 10,000 people, the camp has already


passed the 21,000 mark. Te U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees estimates Ajuong Tok will hold 40,000 people by the end of 2015. Every week 1,000 new refugees arrive—half of them school-aged children. Tat’s all right with ALP head teacher Malachi Farouk


Aballah, who hopes teachers here can raise a new generation of leaders who “can get good jobs [and] teach this country.” 


An unidentified volunteer cuts exercise books into thirds to have enough material for all children at Unity Child-Friendly Space. Flood- ing in the rainy season and fighting in the dry season make it difficult to bring school materials in by truck, instead of expensive air cargo.


An unidentified boy reads his homework at Napata Primary School in Ajuong Thok refugee camp.


May 2015 41


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