We’re so thrilled to announce one of two new partnerships in South Sudan with organisations set up by students, for students. 

Community Access for Sustainable Empowerment (CASE) was set up by Garang Buk Buk, a former child soldier. After finishing his education, he worked to save up to study in Kenya and before leaving he bought one solar light for his family. After visiting from Kenya and observing crowds of children huddled under the one light to read and study, he began to bring books back from Kenya, made a shelter around the light and thus created his first ‘library’. From then on Garang Buk Buk has gone on to set up more and more libraries in South Sudan.  

CASE is receiving 500 donated lights and plans to distribute the majority of these to young girls in the communities in which the organisation works. Some of the lights will accompany books into prisons in South Sudan, where many inmates are young. The recent conflict, poverty and a lack of family support often sees young people reoffend for petty crimes, and education offers one way to empower these young people towards a more hopeful future.  

“I hope to provide them the opportunity to read and study so they will be inspired to turn their lives around once released” Garang Buk Buk, CASE