WTI’s Flagship ASEP Programme Lauded at Prestigious Charity Awards

From Left to right, WTI Chair of Trustees Sam Bickersteth, Trustee Ian Callendar, CEO David Masua, and Director of International Development Alex Bent were proud to attend The Charity Awards ceremony, highlighting the achievements of some of the UK’s highest quality and most innovative charities.

Windle Trust International (WTI) is deeply grateful to have been recognised at this year’s Charity Awards, the longest-running and most prestigious awards scheme in the charity sector.

WTI was shortlisted in the International Aid and Development category for its flagship Accelerated Secondary Education Programme in South Sudan, which directly addresses the nation’s shortage of trained teachers by delivering the country’s secondary education curriculum to unqualified, adult primary school teachers in two years rather than four. Thanks to the programme, 2,300 men and women across South Sudan have completed their secondary education, improving not only their own capacities, but raising the level of education of their students as well.

Windle Trust International were shortlisted alongside Alfanar Venture Philanthropy and Oxfam for the International Aid and Development Award at the Charity Media Awards. Oxfam were successful in winning both the category prize, and the Overall Award for Excellence, the top prize of the night.

The Charity Awards is the sector’s most highly regarded excellence recognition scheme and this year celebrated its 25th anniversary. WTI was among 30 shortlisted charities invited on 3 July to attend a black-tie ceremony hosted by BBC news presenter Asad Ahmad at the Royal Lancaster Hotel in London, England. All were judged by an independent panel of sector leaders as having demonstrated best practice in leadership and management. 

One of the world’s newest nations, South Sudan achieved independence in 2011, but on-going conflict has left its education system in tatters. Primary school dropout rates are so high that many teachers themselves have never completed their own secondary education, particularly females. Early pregnancy, forced marriage and cultural norms mean that just 15% of South Sudan’s primary school teachers are women. WTI addresses this gender imbalance by also offering the Accelerated Secondary Education Programme to vulnerable females who wish to become teachers, thereby ensuring that everyone can receive an education, no matter their age or the reason for disruption.

WTI’s Chief Executive Dr. David Masua, who pioneered South Sudan’s Accelerated Secondary Education Programme, said:

“Although we did not win the top prize at this year's Charity Awards, the fact that we were shortlisted as one of just three finalists for our category. Being recognised alongside household names such as Oxfam underscores our innovation in the sector and the impact our Accelerated Secondary Education Programme (ASEP) has had on both teachers and students in South Sudan, where the adult literacy rate, at 30%, is one of the lowest in the world.

“ASEP helps train and equip South Sudan’s primary school teachers with the skills they need to be able to deliver quality education to the nation’s youth. Good quality education is paramount not just to the development of South Sudan’s economy, but to the nurturing of a sense of nationhood in a country marred by conflict. It also brings hope to those who lost it due to war, poverty and cultural barriers.”

"I am immensely proud of our hard-working team who deliver ASEP on the ground in South Sudan, as well as all of those who have benefitted from the programme. Together, they are changing the future of South Sudan's youth and their place in the world."