Schoolgirls in 79 schools in South Sudan’s Tambura State have started receiving financial support from Windle Trust International to enhance their education, an official said.

The initiative is part of the Girls Education in South Sudan (GESS) program, funded by the Government of the United Kingdom. The program aims to transform a generation of South Sudanese girls by increasing access to quality education through providing money to the girls to buy scholastic materials.

Speaking to Radio Tamazuj on Friday, the director of Windle Trust International in Western Equatoria region, Johnathan Bage said 5,756 girls in Tambura State have started receiving the money.

He pointed out that the payment process started on Monday in the state, saying the money is to keep girls in school amid high school dropouts.

Bage revealed that the payment is for last year. He, however, advised beneficiaries not to use the money for their own desires, but purchase school items.

He said before, girls were not many at school like boys, but with the initiative of supporting girls, the number of girls is now increasing. Bage pointed out that the program is open for girls from Primary 5 to Senior 4 who are at risk of dropping out.

“Girls from Primary 5, Primary 7, Senior 1 and Senior 3 last year got 2,050 SSP, while girls from Primary 6, Primary 8, Senior 2 and Senior 4 last year got 4,100 SSP,” he explained.

Martha Brenda, a beneficiary, said she would buy whatever she lacks like shoes and school uniforms.

Meanwhile, Singba Gladys, thanked the organization and said with such kinds of support rendered, girls will not ask boys for any support.

Daniel Thomas Valerio, the head boy of Tambura Secondary School, urged the organization to assist boys in school with at least 25% of the money given to girls.

Reportedly, girls in P8 and S4 will receive another 2,100 SSP in November.

Last month, the United Kingdom donated $68.4 million targeting girls in South Sudan from Primary 5 to Senior 4.

An estimated 2.2 million children in South Sudan dropped out of school in 2017, according to statistics by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) due to destruction and looting of schools during the conflict.

UPDATE: This story has been updated at 11: 52, 22/8/2019 with information about the plan to pay girls in P8 and S4 in November.