March 12, 2010 – Duk County, Sudan – For thousands of children in Duk County, Jonglei State, Southern Sudan, less than 200 miles from the Ethiopian border, going to school means sitting under a tree with dozens of other children. Or if they do have a classroom, it is often made of mud, which is hot and dusty and dissolves in each rainy season.

International Relief & Development (IRD) has improved this situation in one community. With funding from the Sudan Basic Services Fund, the Community Health and Education Services for Southern Sudan (CHESS) project has constructed and furnished a sturdy four-room school, allowing the 400 students to learn in comfort. All 12 teachers have been trained by IRD. In non-school hours, the school is used to train community health workers and traditional birth attendants, and for adult literacy classes.

During the 18-month CHESS project, IRD, in collaboration with the John Dau Foundation, will train teachers and health care workers, construct three schools and three health clinics, and rehabilitate one primary health center, as well as improve water and sanitation facilities for community clinics and schools.