Girls With Books is helping South Sudanese girls access education, develop leadership skills, and become peacebuilders in their communities. When we think about education, we often picture classrooms, textbooks, and exams. But education is about much more than academics. It can create opportunities, build confidence, and give young people the tools to make a difference in their communities. As an advocacy intern with UNA Boulder, I've learned about organizations working to address global inequalities. One that particularly stood out to me is Girls With Books, a nonprofit dedicated to educating South Sudanese girls to become leaders and peacebuilders. After reading its 2026 Mid-Year Report, I wanted to highlight some of theorganization's recent accomplishments and reflect on why this work matters.
Opening Doors Through Education
150
Girls supported
34
New students
61
Skills graduates
Figures reported by Girls With Books in its 2026 Mid-Year Report.
One of the most exciting updates is that Girls With Books welcomed 34 new students, bringing the total number of girls supported to 150, including students living in refugee camps in northern Uganda. What stood out to me is that the organization does more than cover tuition. It also provides boarding, school supplies, personal necessities, and mentorship. I think it's easy to take education for granted when attending school has always been part of our lives. But this program reminded me that simply having access to a classroom isn't always enough. Students also need stability, resources, and encouragement to succeed.
Preparing Young Women for the Future
Another accomplishment I found particularly meaningful is the growth of the Girls With Books Women's Center in Juba, South Sudan. The center provides a place where young women can keep learning, build professional skills, and connect after high school. Through its Skills for Success program, participants receive training in computer literacy, resume writing, job interviews, workplace communication, and other practical skills. So far, 61 young women have graduated from the program, with another 24 students enrolled. Learning and collaboration are central to the organization's Skills for Success initiative. This initiative stood out to me because education shouldn't stop at graduation. Learning how to apply knowledge in professional settings is an important part of building independence and creating future opportunities.
Building Peace Through Leadership
One of the most interesting parts of Girls With Books is how it connects education to peacebuilding. The organization's Girls' Leadership Circle program brings together students from different tribal and cultural backgrounds to develop leadership skills, build friendships, and discuss issues affecting their communities. In 2026, the program expanded to another school in Uganda. Its impact has already encouraged that school to develop similar leadership activities for other students. As an international affairs student, I find this especially important. We often discuss peacebuilding in terms of governments, international organizations, and political agreements. But peace can also begin through everyday interactions. By encouraging young women to understand different perspectives and build relationships across communities, Girls With Books is helping create a foundation for future peacebuilders.
Education Also Means Emotional Support
Something else I appreciated about the organization is its recognition that academic success and emotional well-being are closely connected. In November 2025, Girls With Books board member Lily Ribeiro introduced the organization's first Trauma Healing Program to help students process difficult experiences, build resilience, and develop healthy coping skills. The students responded so positively that the organization held another session in August 2026. This is an important reminder that education involves supporting the whole person. Students need more than academic resources. They also need environments where they feel safe, supported, and confident.
Celebrating Growth and New Opportunities
Girls With Books has also worked to give students and families more opportunities to share their experiences. During the summer, program leaders in Juba worked with the organization's U.S. team, including professional journalist Tamara Banks, to learn how to create videos featuring students and community members. These efforts help students and families share their experiences and communicate Girls With Books' impact in their own voices. The organization also raised more than $70,000 at its September 16 fundraising event, helping support its continued work.
Why This Matters to Me
As an advocacy intern with UNA Boulder, learning about Girls With Books has helped me connect some of the global issues I study to the experiences of individual students. When we discuss educational inequality or conflict, it's easy to focus on statistics and large-scale challenges. But behind those numbers are real people with goals, ambitions, and the potential to make meaningful changes in their communities. What I admire most about Girls With Books is that its work doesn't end with helping girls attend school. The organization is also helping young women develop the confidence, skills, and relationships they need to shape their own futures. Through education, leadership development, and emotional support, these students are gaining opportunities that extend beyond their own lives and into their communities. The progress outlined in the 2026 Mid-Year Report reminds me that investing in girls' education is about much more than providing access to classrooms. It's about giving young women the opportunity to become leaders, build stronger communities, and contribute to lasting peace. To me, that's what makes this work so meaningful.
Learn More and Get Involved
Supporting girls' education means investing in future leaders, stronger communities, and opportunities for lasting peace. Organizations like Girls With Books demonstrate how access to education can create meaningful change, one student at a time. To learn more about Girls With Books, explore its programs, and find out how you can support its mission, visit the organization's website.
Visit Girls With Books!
Source: Girls With Books 2026 Mid-Year Report
