"Dear Teacher ... I Have Missed You Plenty"
Schools in South Sudan were shut down for 14 months to prevent the spread of COVID-19. In a UNICEF letter-writing workshop, out-of-school students poured out their hearts to their instructors.
"Dear Teacher Ferguson, it has been so long since I attended your science class. I love and miss your lessons," wrote Miakol Joseph, 14. "Dear Teacher ... I have missed you plenty, " confided 17-year-old Sarah Malual. "During your class, we always have good debates," added Margaret Aluel, 15. "It is important to have an opinion, especially for us girls."
Watch the video to see how much out-of-school students in South Sudan missed their teachers — and vice versa:
Millions of students and teachers around the world are eager to get back into the classroom this fall. Schools should be the last to close and the first to reopen. The future of the next generation is at stake.
UNICEF is calling on governments to prioritize the safe reopening of schools for in-person learning. Please support UNICEF's work to get students back into the classroom.
Top photo: Fiifteen-year-old Martha Ajah participates in UNICEF's "Dear Teacher" letter-writing workshop at Venus Star School in Juba, South Sudan. © UNICEF/UN0430070/Naftalin. Video by Tong Su for UNICEF USA
HOW TO HELP
There are many ways to make a difference
War, famine, poverty, natural disasters — threats to the world's children keep coming. But UNICEF won't stop working to keep children healthy and safe.
UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories — more places than any other children's organization. UNICEF has the world's largest humanitarian warehouse and, when disaster strikes, can get supplies almost anywhere within 72 hours. Constantly innovating, always advocating for a better world for children, UNICEF works to ensure that every child can grow up healthy, educated, protected and respected.
Would you like to help give all children the opportunity to reach their full potential? There are many ways to get involved.
