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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
National
Dave Eggers

Dave Eggers, south Sudan and a passion for learning

DAVE EGGERS IN SUDAN: DAVE EGGERS SUDAN
Dave Eggers and Valentino Achak Deng on the building site of the school. They knew a school was very much needed after visiting Marial Bai in 2007. Photograph: Greg Larson
DAVE EGGERS IN SUDAN: DAVE EGGERS SUDAN
The first 85 students accepted into Marial Bai secondary school in May 2009. Since then, 175 more students have joined the school. Achak Deng hopes to eventually have 500 pupils learning at Marial Bai school. Photograph: Greg Larson
DAVE EGGERS IN SUDAN: DAVE EGGERS SUDAN
Some of the first girls to board at Marial Bai secondary school. Two female dormitories have been built so that at least 100 women can stay at the school and be free from household chores and obligations. There are now 22 girls studying at the school.
Photograph: Sarah Morrison
DAVE EGGERS IN SUDAN: DAVE EGGERS SUDAN
Reading in 'prep time' after dinner. According to a 2006 Sudan Household Study, the literacy rate among women in southern Sudan aged 15-24 was just 2.5%, compared to 56.4% for women in the north.
Photograph: Sarah Morrison
DAVE EGGERS IN SUDAN: DAVE EGGERS SUDAN
Male students sitting down in their lunch break, after having cut the grass around the grounds of the school. The huts in the background are the type of houses that the community in Marial Bai live in.
Photograph: Sarah Morrison
DAVE EGGERS IN SUDAN: DAVE EGGERS SUDAN
Here, Achak Deng is trying to get water out of the borehole on the school site. The borehole releases dirty water, but the students use it because they have no clean water alternative.
Photograph: Sarah Morrison
DAVE EGGERS IN SUDAN: DAVE EGGERS SUDAN
3 Kenyan teachers that Achak Deng hired in May 2010. While he encourages southern Sudanese teachers to apply for positions at the school (and he has five), there are very few trained southern Sudanese teachers available.
Photograph: Sarah Morrison
DAVE EGGERS IN SUDAN: DAVE EGGERS SUDAN
Elizabeth Alakiir Akoon, 19, is from Marial Bai and was one of the first girls to enrol at the school. She has a 7-month-old daughter called Mary Adhel, who she leaves at home with her mother every day to attend class. She wants to complete school so that she can become a nurse.
Photograph: Sarah Morrison
DAVE EGGERS IN SUDAN: DAVE EGGERS SUDAN
Students cleaning up the school. All maintenance is carried out by the students themselves, as part of a drive to create community leaders.
Photograph: Sarah Morrison
DAVE EGGERS IN SUDAN: DAVE EGGERS SUDAN
Two students in form 1C, Andrea Yai Akech, 20, and Gabriel Dut Garang, 18. They are studying chemistry. Like the other students, they have brought their own chairs with them to class.
Photograph: Sarah Morrison
DAVE EGGERS IN SUDAN: DAVE EGGERS SUDAN
William Deng Akot, 18, has just found out he has got one of the best marks in the class in his mid-term mathematics exam. Photograph: Sarah Morrison
DAVE EGGERS IN SUDAN: DAVE EGGERS SUDAN
Primary school age children. According to the government, 48% of students are enrolled in southern Sudan's primary schools. They estimate that around 12% of children finish primary education. Save The Children puts this figure closer to 2%.
Photograph: Sarah Morrison
DAVE EGGERS IN SUDAN: DAVE EGGERS SUDAN
Students from Waralel primary school celebrate 'Girl and Child Education Day' and show their thanks for the secondary school and those who run it.
Photograph: Sarah Morrison
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