PADOC AREA SCHOLARS SOCIETY USA

SOUTH SUDAN HAS BEEN IMPACTED BY DECADES-LONG CONFLICTS, AND THE SOUTH SUDANESE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN DEPRIVED OF DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR MANY YEARS. SOUTH SUDAN GAINED INDEPENDENCE FROM SUDAN IN 2011 AFTER MANY YEARS OF CIVIL WAR. SOUTH SUDAN LACKS BASIC INFRASTRUCTURE AND HAS A MINIMALLY SKILLED WORKFORCE. SOUTH SUDAN IS RANKED AS THE 1 POOREST COUNTRY IN THE WORLD WITH AN ANNUAL PER CAPITA GDP OF 455. FOR COMPARISON, HAITI IS 21ST WITH A GDP OF 3,108. THE U.S. DOLLAR IS VERY IMPACTFUL FOR THE YOUTH OF SOUTH SUDAN AS A FULL-YEAR TUITION AND FEES COSTS ONLY 450 MANY OF OUR COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS RECEIVE FULL TUITION AND LIVING EXPENSES FOR 2, 3 AND 4 YEAR COLLEGE PROGRAMS. ALL OF THE COLLEGE MAJORS THAT WE SUPPORT HAVE DIRECT EMPLOYABILITY IN THE SOUTH SUDANESE ECONOMIC SYSTEM. MOST OF OUR STUDENTS ARE ORPHANS. MANY OTHERS SUFFER FROM PTSD AS A RESULT OF EXPERIENCING TRAUMATIC VIOLENT EVENTS.