Valentino Achak Deng: A Lost Boy who became a minister
Published: 19 October 2014
Link to web article here.
Valentino Achak Deng was chosen as the new Minister of Education of Northern Bahr El Ghazal state, in a total reshuffle of the state government's cabinet by caretaker governor Kuel Aguer.
Is Deng, a non-politician, who recently spoke at TEDxBerlin, a prestigious independently organised TEDx event, fit to do the job?
Deng is a Lost Boy and his journey from the bushes, to the refugee camps of Kenya and Ethiopia and eventually settlement in the United States was detailed in the critically acclaimed novel What Is the What. Author Dave Eggers helped Deng write his story.
Deng was born in Marial Bai, Northern Bahr El Ghazal. During the writing of his book, he returned home and was overwhelmed by the difficulties people were facing. Using funds from What Is the What, in 2006 he estabilished the Valentino Achak Deng Foundation, which helps rebuild South Sudanese communities by providing educational opportunities and facilities. All proceeds from the book are donated directly to the foundation.
In 2008 he began the construction of his school. The architecture was South Sudanese and all building materials and construction workers were from Marial Bai. In 2009 the village's first secondary school opened, Marial Bai Secondary School.
The school has increased access to excellent secondary education, trained teachers, created equal opportunities for girls, promoted literacy for children and adults in the regions. It is the highest ranking South Sudanese secondary school that is free for students to attend.
The school not only enriches the students' education, it teaches them vital skills through enrichment programs such as sports, boy scouts and girl guides and drama and debate clubs. The school also has a science lab for scientific experiments.
The school also plays its part in girls education – the school is at 50% enrolment and offers young women's mentoring programs, and has a female dormitory which can accommodate 100 girls at full capacity – more than any other high school in the country.
Will he get the job done and help address the issue of education on a larger scale? Only time will tell.