Why we helped to build St John's College's Extension
Thanks to the vision of Archbishop Moses, St John’s College in the Cathedral compound in Wau was founded in 2012 with a mission to transform society. Under the leadership of college Principals, first Joseph Mamer and now Philip Abiel, the college has expanded enormously from 3 students when it opened to over 260 students now, studying Business Studies and Education, as well as Theology. In South Sudan the churches remain a beacon of hope for the future, and St John's College is at the heart of the mission of the ECSS Church in Wau Diocese and also serves other dioceses in Northern Bahr el-Ghazal Province. PWP has been supporting the college since 2015 and our continuing support helps pay the salaries of teaching staff and other running expenses.
In July 2021, the Governing Council of the college, using its own resources, constructed the foundations for a new building, with four lecture halls and two offices. It is the key to further expansion of student numbers, will enable teaching to become more effective and potentially allow the college to offer a wider variety of courses. Archbishop Moses has decided that the new building is to be named The Poole-Wau Partnership Building in recognition of PWP’s role in the college’s development.
Progress with the appeal: over £50,000 raised in three years (including grants of £16,500)
January 2022: we launch our Appeal to finance the construction of the new building.
March 2022: the initial target of £8,000 to build the walls is reached and work on building the walls starts. The next stage of the appeal, for £12,300, the cost of the roof, is launched.
September 2022: Construction of the walls is finished.
October 2022: Slavanka Trust approves a grant of £6,500 towards the cost of building the roof.
January 2023: £12,300 is sent to the college, including the Slavanka Trust grant money, for construction of the roof.
April 2023: Construction of the roof is completed.
May 2023: Fundraising for the next stage of construction, the doors, windows and floor, wall and ceiling finishes, begins, with a target of £20,000.
November 2023: Thanks to proceeds from the Holes Bay Walk, some very generous individual donations and a £5,000 grant from the Charis Trust, £15,000 towards the target of £20,000 for the final stages of construction is sent out to St John's College on 8th November 2023. Two weeks later, PWP applies to the Slavanka Trust for a grant to enable us to reach the target.
February 2024: On 3rd February we heard from the Slavanka Trust that our application for a grant of £5000 to enable the college to complete the final stage of main construction (fitting the doors, windows and wall, floor & ceiling finishes) has been agreed.
November 2024: With the main construction now finished, work begins on the verandah in front of the building, a traditional feature of buildings in South Sudan which will provide shade for students and help to keep the temperature inside the building slightly cooler. The 2024 Holes Bay Walk raised over £4,000 for this part of the project.
January 2025: A further sum of approximately £5000 will be sent out to cover the cost of interior and exterior painting, which it is hoped will be completed in time for the official opening ceremony on 8th February 2025. Our Appeal to fund this project to provide St John’s College with four purpose-built lecture rooms and two offices has achieved its final goal after three years of fundraising. In all PWP has raised over £50,000 for this project (including £16,500 in grants from the Slavanka Trust and Charis Trust), while also continuing to send £18,000 per year to the college to help pay teaching staff salaries and other running costs.
Thank you for your support! I pray that this partnership will continue and prosper.
Philip Abiel Nyok Awuol, Principal, St John's College, Wau
