11/16/2004

These girls, wearing school uniforms, are pumping water from a well drilled by an international NGO with funding from UNICEF. The international aid community is building schools and health centers and drilling wells in the Nuba Mountains, although in the absence of a permanent peace agreement aid donors are reluctant to commit to longer-term economic development programs. Education for their children is the top priority of the Nubans. These girls walk two hours morning and evening from their homes to attend a primary school. Several secondary and teacher training schools are under construction.