The VAD Foundation

11/13/2025

Groundnuts, a powerhouse of nutrition, are rich in protein, healthy fats, and essential vitamins, making them an excellent addition to the local diet in South Sudan. Their high energy content is vital for an active lifestyle, and they are also an excellent source of antioxidants. In addition to their health benefits, peanuts also open up opportunities for business ventures. Farmers can diversify their income by producing oil, snacks, and other value-added products. With growing demand, this crop not only ensures food security but also promotes economic growth in the community. By investing in peanut cultivation, farmers can cultivate both their land and their future, fostering prosperity for themselves and their families.
Now at our School Farm in Rum'Majok, Aweil, to help the team harvest Groundnuts.

07/04/2025

Happy Independence Day to our American friends and supporters! Our staff and students at the VAD Foundation in South Sudan wish you a fun-filled 4th of July and a relaxing holiday weekend!

06/26/2025

Education serves as a powerful tool for social and economic empowerment, helping individuals break free from the cycle of poverty and create a better future for themselves and their communities. Learn more about the Valentino Achak Deng (VAD) Foundation's commitment to education at vadfoundation.org

04/01/2025

We are incredibly grateful and feel so inspired by the kindness and generosity we've experienced these last couple of weeks!

Thank you, Nicholas Kristof, for your recent piece in the The New York Times about the Valentino Achak Deng Foundation, "Meet the Opposite of Elon Musk," and to every single person who has supported the VAD Foundation following the publication of this article.

If you haven't seen Kristof's piece yet, you can read it now at https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/22/opinion/musk-trump-education.html

03/26/2025

The Valentino Achak Deng (VAD) Foundation was featured in the New York Times over the weekend, in an opinion piece by our dear friend and Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Nicholas Kristof, entitled "Meet the Opposite of Elon Musk." Read it today: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/22/opinion/musk-trump-education.html?unlocked_article_code=1.504.B6_M.TjziqMyhfy6R&smid=url-share

03/18/2025

Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Nicholas Kristof recently visited the Valentino Achak Deng Foundation to explore our programs and connect with VAD Foundation Scholars for an upcoming New York Times feature—stay tuned!

In this photo, Kristof stands with Scholar Daniella Adut outside Cornerstones Vision Academy, the VAD Foundation’s Scholars Program partner in Aweil, South Sudan.

02/03/2025

The VAD Foundation is honored to have been mentioned in the The New York Times last week by Nicholas Kristof!

Read the article below:

Forecasts suggest that by 2100, a majority of the world’s babies will be African, leading to predictions of an African century.

12/03/2024

This GivingTuesday, donate to the VAD Foundation to help us have an even greater impact in South Sudanese education, particularly for girls, in 2025. Your special GivingTuesday donation to the VAD Foundation today can help:
- Fund scholarships for the 330 students continuing their education
- Support more than 75 high school students with technical and workforce training as they approach graduation
- Open the doors of the new Bobby Newmyer Dining Hall and Auditorium, a gathering space with the potential to reach over 10,000 students and community members in Aweil, South Sudan
- Expand our vocational programs to reach at least 25 new trainees, equipping them with the skills to build South Sudan’s future
- Cultivate 70 acres of crops alongside hundreds of students and locals, primarily women, to promote food security in the region

Donate to the VAD Foundation now at https://buff.ly/4fXGW05

12/03/2024

Give the gift of education this GivingTuesday (today)!

In 2024 alone, your generosity has made it possible for the VAD Foundation to:
- Sponsor 372 girls in elementary and high school, providing them with a safe, nurturing environment to learn and grow
- Support 60 graduating high school students with computer training to prepare for the workforce or further education
- Bring over 5,000 students and community members together to celebrate creativity and dialogue at the Inter-Secondary Schools Drama Festival
- Cultivate 70 acres of crops alongside 500 students and 150 women, promoting food security and economic independence

Your support makes a real difference in the lives of students in South Sudan! Donate to the VAD Foundation today through the link in our bio!

12/03/2024

Give the gift of education this GivingTuesday (today)!

In 2024 alone, your generosity has made it possible for the VAD Foundation to:
- Sponsor 372 girls in elementary and high school, providing them with a safe, nurturing environment to learn and grow
- Support 60 graduating high school students with computer training to prepare for the workforce or further education
- Bring over 5,000 students and community members together to celebrate creativity and dialogue at the Inter-Secondary Schools Drama Festival
- Cultivate 70 acres of crops alongside 500 students and 150 women, promoting food security and economic independence

Your support makes a real difference in the lives of students in South Sudan! Donate to the VAD Foundation today: https://secure.givelively.org/donate/vad-foundation

11/27/2024

is in just one week! Please keep the VAD Foundation in mind for your charitable giving this year-end!

A gift to the VAD Foundation for directly supports our efforts to educate and empower communities in war-torn South Sudan.

We could not do this vital work without your support. We are so thankful for your generosity.

09/24/2024

An Urgent Appeal for Your Support:

The VAD Foundation urgently needs financial support from our donors as we face multiple pressures threatening the future of our programs in South Sudan. Donate today at https://www.vadfoundation.org/donate

While a steady decline in donations has impacted our work for several years, 2024 presents new challenges. Donor fatigue, a recent trend in the nonprofit sector, has reduced contributions significantly. Additionally, the United States presidential election—when fundraising traditionally drops for all nonprofits—has further exacerbated the issue, as 90% of our donor base is from the U.S.

The situation is further complicated by rising inflation, conflict, and natural disasters driving up operational costs on the ground in South Sudan. South Sudan is experiencing increased demand for services due to devastating flooding, as described above in this update, and an ongoing refugee influx from neighboring conflict zones, adding strain to an already fragile system.

The decline in financial support to the VAD Foundation is particularly devastating as it comes at a time of significant progress for our students, especially girls, who are achieving remarkable academic success, as highlighted above in Akon Garang Atak's story.

If donations to the VAD Foundation do not increase soon, we may have to make difficult decisions about scaling back our programs. As one of the few nonprofit organizations providing education and hope in the region, we are deeply concerned that without immediate financial support, we will no longer be able to serve those most in need.

The progress we’ve made with our students is extraordinary, but sustaining this success requires urgent action. We need your financial support now more than ever to ensure that our programs can continue to transform lives. Your generosity is critical in helping us provide hope and opportunities to those we serve during these challenging times.

We urge you to donate as soon as possible to ensure the VAD Foundation can continue its vital mission to empower South Sudanese communities.

Donate today at https://www.vadfoundation.org/donate