Help a Child South Sudan expands support for early childhood learning in Wau county

The challenge
Across the targeted schools, many young children were learning in classrooms with inadequate or unsuitable furniture. In some cases, the available furniture did not meet the needs of young learners, affecting their comfort, participation and overall learning experience.

Early Childhood Development in South Sudan continues to face serious gaps in access, infrastructure and learning conditions. UNICEF data shows that only about 6% of children aged 36–59 months attend an early childhood education programme, while many schools still lack suitable classrooms, age-appropriate furniture and basic learning materials.

In Wau County, these challenges were reflected in several ECD classrooms where young children were learning with inadequate or unsuitable furniture. Such conditions can affect comfort, participation, classroom organization and the overall quality of early learning.

These gaps reflect a broader challenge facing Early Childhood Development services, where limited investment in basic infrastructure, classroom furniture and age-appropriate learning environments can undermine the quality of education children receive during their most formative years.

For young children, the classroom environment matters. A child who does not have an appropriate place to sit, learn and interact may struggle to participate fully in classroom activities. Inadequate furniture can also affect classroom organization, safety and the ability of teachers to deliver engaging, child-centered learning.

The response
Recognizing this challenge, Help a Child South Sudan mobilized its own resources to provide durable, age-appropriate and child-friendly furniture to ECD sections in Kosti Girls Primary School, Lokoloko Primary School, Aweil Jedid Primary School, Ngissa Baggari Primary School, Billpam Primary School and El Ganain Primary School.

The official launch and commissioning ceremony was held at Kosti Girls Primary School and brought together key education stakeholders, including the Country Director of Help a Child South Sudan, Juma Ismail, Director General for Education, representatives from the State Ministry of General Education, Wau County and Wau Municipality, school leaders, teachers, Parent-Teacher Associations, parents, community representatives and education partners.

This response is important because the physical learning environment plays a major role in how young children participate, interact and develop. Appropriate furniture helps children sit comfortably, engage in classroom activities, work with their peers and move safely within the learning space.

For ECD learners, classrooms should support play, creativity, communication and active participation. Child-friendly furniture helps teachers organize these activities more effectively and creates a learning environment that is better suited to the developmental needs of young children.

The intervention also contributes to dignity and inclusion. When children have safe and appropriate spaces to sit and learn, they are more likely to feel valued, confident and included in the classroom experience.

By investing in the learning environment, Help a Child South Sudan is addressing an immediate practical need while helping strengthen the foundation for school readiness, participation and future learning.

The furniture support was officially launched and commissioned on 25 September 2026 at Kosti Girls Primary School in Wau County.

The ceremony brought together key education stakeholders, including the Country Director of Help a Child South Sudan, Juma Ismail, Director General for Education, representatives from the State Ministry of General Education, Wau County and Wau Municipality, school leadership, teachers, Parent-Teacher Associations, parents, community representatives and education partners. “Improving the learning environment for children is an important part of strengthening the quality of education. This support will help our young learners study in a safer and more appropriate classroom setting,” Juma Ismail, Director General for Education.