Excellence Foundation for South Sudan Donate
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Juba, South Sudan · since 2021

Toward a new dawn

A volunteer-based national NGO building excellence in education and personal growth: training teachers, challenging pupils, mentoring young women and young professionals, and bringing communities together.

Support our work See our programmes
Teachers and Excellence Foundation volunteers pose together outside a school after a teachers' skills workshop

What volunteers have built since 2021

  • 718+teachers trained and mentored
  • 90+schools reached
  • 15,000+learners reached
  • 5,000+people in our online sessions
  • 100+virtual masterclasses
  • 65+volunteer trainers
  • 40+fellows
  • 300+internship applications received

Figures as the foundation reports them.

Who we are

Young South Sudanese, working for their country

In September 2021 a group of educated, like-minded young people working in different sectors came together to address South Sudan's most pressing needs. They called their organisation the Excellence Foundation for South Sudan.

EFSS is an independent, volunteer-based, non-profit national organisation. We provide education support, leadership development and community-building initiatives for individuals and marginalised communities, through grassroots activities that encourage literacy, community peace, tolerance and development.

We involve local people from the start of every activity, and we mobilise communities for peace, tolerance and development. Our work is not limited to one sector or one region.

  • Registered with the South Sudan Relief and Rehabilitation Commission (RRC) in September 2021, registration number 3,852.
  • Based on Ministries Street, Hai Buluk, Juba. In 2024 the RRC of Yei River County also granted us a Recognition Certificate of Operation.
A facilitator leads a teachers' skills workshop in a classroom at Apex Junior Schools, Juba, while two colleagues take notes at a laptop

Vision

A community living a quality and sustainable life.

Mission

To contribute to the education of young people, through a value-based system, to help build a better world where people are self-fulfilled as individuals and play a constructive role in society.

Goal

To improve the living standard of the communities of the Republic of South Sudan through community mobilisation, capacity building, advocacy and stronger livelihoods.

Values guiding our work

  • Truth transparency at all levels of our work
  • Proficiency creative expertise and strong commitment
  • Solidarity within our team and with the people we support
  • Justice within our organisation and in society
  • Integrity acting by the values we promote
  • Flexibility willing to change and learn

Our programmes

Learning that reaches classrooms, campuses and communities

Teachers work in small groups at desks during an in-service workshop

Teachers' Skills Boost and the EFSS Teachers' Network

In-service workshops with partner schools, mostly in Juba, to improve classroom learning. Teachers we reach join the EFSS Teachers' Network to keep sharing resources and opportunities. This year we trained 201 teachers in 14 schools in Juba.

A secondary school student in a lilac shirt gives a speech into a microphone at a schools contest

Schools Mini Competition and the National Spelling Bee

An annual Spelling Bee, Speed Challenge Quiz, Speech and Academic Debate contest that gives public and private schools a level playing field. Since 2022 it has worked with over 40 schools in Juba, reaching more than 5,000 learners and at least 100 teachers.

Two young women review work together on a phone and in a notebook

Female Student Internship Program

Three months of hands-on work in communications, project and finance management, with mentoring and networking, for final-year students and fresh graduates with no work experience. Piloted in January 2024; the eighth cohort opened in 2026.

Build Your Best Self fellows in matching white T-shirts stand together in rows outdoors

Build Your Best Self (BYBS) Fellowship

A three-month fellowship that helps fellows rediscover themselves, realign their mindsets and step into a life of purpose and intention.

Youth Skills Boost

Free masterclasses on Zoom and YouTube live, plus in-person workshops, webinars, mentorship and fellowships. Over 1,500 people from across South Sudan and beyond have taken part, and more than 40 professionals have volunteered to train since 2022.

An EFSS volunteer holds up a laptop to residents seated under a tree at a community outreach in Khor Wolliang, Juba

Community outreach

Meetings with residents on peacebuilding, media and information literacy, nutrition and entrepreneurship. Our fourth outreach of this year, in Khor Wolliang, Juba, was on healthy eating.

  • Prefects Board Mentorship and Career Chat

    One month of leadership mentoring for student leaders, and career guidance for their schoolmates. About 10 schools in Juba and Yei, close to 1,000 students and pupils.

  • Media outreach

    Radio stations invite us to discuss our projects and the issues around them in depth.

  • The ClarityDesk Project

    Timely, accurate media-integrity services that give people verified information against misinformation.

  • Mental health awareness

    Awareness sessions on mental wellbeing with the Mental Health Society South Sudan initiative.

  • Reading clubs and study aid

    Support for learners to read more and study better.

What we work on

Seven areas, one aim: communities that solve their own problems

Our overall objective is to strengthen the ability of the communities we serve to tackle their own economic, social and environmental problems for sustainable development.

  1. Child protection and education

    Confidence building, competitions, child-rights awareness, safe learning spaces, leadership in children's groups, and support for teachers and learners.

  2. Health, nutrition and WASH

    Health awareness, public health events with government and partners, and community-managed water, sanitation and hygiene services.

  3. Women empowerment

    Women's leadership, their constitutional, legal, social, economic and political rights, and income-generation skills.

  4. Media and information literacy

    The skills to find, critically evaluate and ethically use information, oral, print and digital.

  5. Research and environmental conservation

    Knowledge for better decisions, protecting natural resources, and action on climate change.

  6. Youth, peace and ICT

    Information technology, peace and security services for young people.

  7. Livelihoods and rehabilitation

    Basic farm inputs and tools, and organised farmer groups, for lasting economic change.

Moments

Pupils, teachers and interns we are proud of

Pupils of Jada Jedid in blue and white uniforms hold up their trophy after the debate final

Debate

Jada Jedid wins the 'Water is Life' inter-primary school debate

A close final, with every team showing the research and debate skills their coaches built.

African Spelling Bee 2023

South Sudan's debut in Kampala

Our National Spelling Bee sent three spellers and two teachers to the 6th African Spelling Bee in Kampala, Uganda. The spellers came home with gold medals and participation certificates.

#JPSMC2023

A three-year bursary for the top speaker

Adhar Mayiik, a primary five pupil at Juba Parents School, won a bursary to complete her primary education after topping the speech category of the Juba Primary Schools Mini Competition.

Juba Schools Contest 2022

Bishop Mazzoldi Memorial Primary School, champions

Bishop Mazzoldi took the title; Jolly Ephatha Primary School celebrated reaching the final.

Two men wearing headphones in a radio studio

On air

Talking education on the radio

Radio stations invite our team to explain our projects and discuss current affairs around our work.

Wikimania 2022

Three days of Wikipedia learning

With the Wikimedia Community User Group South Sudan and Koneta Hub: a meet-up, training and watch party for 26 participants, chosen from 51 who applied.

I am sincerely grateful for the incredible opportunities you've provided me: connecting with diverse individuals and acquiring valuable insights.

Emmanuel Alio Denis

We thank you for bringing schools together through the Juba Primary Schools Mini Competition for teachers and learners to interact.

Patrick Irra, teacher at Juba Diplomatic School

Our team

Run by volunteers

EFSS is volunteer-based: our project staff give their time without pay.

Board of Directors

  • Emmanuel Bida Thomas Board Chair
  • Emmanuel Karaba Ezra Board Secretary
  • John Muki Cosmas Board Treasurer
  • Roman Viola Brenda Member
  • Khemis Simon Stephen Member
  • Suiya Anna James Member
  • Philip Odokonyero Member
  • Mawa Minga Member
  • Joseph Henry Finish Member
  • James Lubang Scopas Member

Volunteer project staff

  • Emmanuel Karaba Executive Director
  • John Muki Cosmas Admin and Finance Manager
  • Emmanuel Bida Thomas Program Manager
  • Susan Poni Waya Program Officer
  • Simon Khemis Stephen Project Manager
  • Moga Edward Eresto Project Manager

Networks we belong to

  • National Education Coalition (NEC) South Sudan
  • African Spelling Bee
  • Global Waste Cleaning Network (GWCN)

Get involved

Help a teacher, a pupil or a young graduate rise

Your gift helps volunteers run workshops, contests, internships and outreach in Juba and beyond.

Donate on GlobalGiving

Mobile money in South Sudan

Digicash
Code M64762
MTN MoMo
Code 496136

Account name: Excellence Foundation for South Sudan

Volunteer

Train, mentor, or help run a contest or an outreach. Write to us with what you can offer.

Partner with us

Schools, NGOs, companies and media: let's plan a workshop, a contest or a campaign together.

We run background checks and ask for a certificate of good conduct when we recruit, to keep children and vulnerable adults safe.

Contact

Talk to us