PLAN international has launched a campaign to end vulnerability amongst girls in Magwi County, Eastern Equatoria State.

The awareness campaign, dubbed, ‘Because I’m a girl’ is under the theme: “Ten days to invest in girl’s education”.

PLAN operates in 50 countries across Africa, Asia and the Americas to promote and protect the rights of children.

In 2012, UNICEF said out of every 10 children of the school going age, only three attend schools in Eastern Equatoria, which makes its enrollment the lowest in the 10 states of South Sudan.

The organization’s coordinator in Eastern Equatoria State, Graham Juma, says the campaign is to create awareness amongst the public to encourage them enroll more girls in schools.

“Those girls are actually vulnerable and we need to empower them so that they can be able to realize their potential,” said Mr Juma.

Traditional practices such as early marriage and house chores are said to be the major factors affecting girls’ education in the area.

The head teacher of Magwi Central Primary School, Loboi Aldo, says lack of sanitary facilities in schools is one of the factors that lead to many girls dropping out of schools.

“We don’t have proper latrines. We don’t have proper shelter for girls to go to ease themselves and they don’t have sanitary materials,” he added.

Generally in South Sudan, access to education is still a major challenge to many, with only 27% of the population able to read and write, according to the country’s National Bureau of Statistics.