24/10/2025
Education Needs All (ENA) Officially Launches Operations in South Sudan
Youth Summit on Education, Employment, and Empowerment Marks a New Chapter for ENA
Juba, South Sudan – 23 October 2025
Education Needs All (ENA) officially launched its operations in South Sudan during the ENA Summit on Education, Employment, and Youth Empowerment, held on 22 October 2025 at the Pyramid Continental Hotel, Juba. The event brought together key government representatives, international organizations, academic institutions, and youth networks under one platform to discuss collaborative strategies that strengthen education and empower young people across the country.
The summit commenced with opening remarks by ENA Executive Director, Mr. Deng Solomon Kuot, who welcomed guests, recognized ENA’s partners, and outlined the objectives of the summit. He emphasized that the event not only served as a platform for dialogue but also marked the official launch of ENA’s operations in South Sudan, aimed at driving impact through education, employability, and innovation.
“Today marks a milestone for Education Needs All and the young people of South Sudan,” said Mr. Kuot. “ENA’s presence here signifies our shared commitment to creating pathways for learning, leadership, and sustainable livelihoods.”
The Guest of Honour, Hon. Madut Biar Yel, the Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology, applauded ENA’s vision and affirmed the Ministry’s readiness to collaborate with the organization.
“The government of South Sudan stands ready to work hand in hand with ENA in empowering our youth and addressing national challenges through education,” the Minister stated.
The event attracted representatives from several international organizations, including Save the Children, Lutheran World Federation (LWF), World Vision South Sudan, and CORDAID, as well as ENA’s partner organizations CAPaD, YMCA South Sudan, Amani South Sudan.
Adding artistic flavor to the summit, Green Belt Academy and Amonto Girls Secondary School presented poems centered on the summit’s theme, while City View Academy, through the Mama Gi Kore Africa Club, performed a music poetry piece celebrating youth resilience and African unity.
Since this was the official launch of ENA, the event also featured a cake-cutting ceremony, symbolizing the beginning of ENA’s formal operations in South Sudan.
In his address, ENA Founder and CEO, Mr. Jacob Deng Bol, who travelled from Earth University in Costa Rica, shared ENA’s inspiring journey from its founding vision to its impacts, ongoing programs, and future aspirations. He also highlighted existing gaps and called for stronger partnerships to scale up ENA’s work in youth empowerment and education.
The summit’s highlight was a panel discussion on “Education, Employment, and Youth Empowerment”, featuring the Minister of Higher Education, CAPaD, World Vision, Amani South Sudan, ENA Founder, and an ENA program beneficiary. The interactive session allowed panelists to exchange insights on the challenges facing youth and propose actionable strategies for strengthening education-to-employment pathways.
Following the panel, participants engaged in a questions and answers session, enabling open dialogue and the sharing of practical ideas.
International organizations, including Save the Children, expressed strong interest in future collaboration with ENA to advance shared goals of youth empowerment, education, and inclusion.
The event concluded with a collective call to action reaffirming the importance of partnership, innovation, and commitment in achieving youth empowerment activities.
“This summit has shown that together, through education, employment, and innovation, we can build a better future for our youth and our nation,” concluded Mr. Kuot in his closing remarks.
The ENA Summit 2025 marked a historic step for Education Needs All, as it officially positioned the organization as a key youth development partner in South Sudan — uniting stakeholders, inspiring young people, and fostering a shared vision for sustainable progress.
