VAD Foundation

The Valentino Achak Deng (VAD) Foundation is a nonprofit organization based in San Francisco, California. With 12 employees, the organization focuses its efforts on creating quality educational opportunities in South Sudan. The VAD Foundation works to empower war-affected South Sudanese communities by constructing schools, increasing access to quality education, and creating new teacher-training programs. Their flagship project is the Marial Bai Secondary School, ranked 3rd nationwide. This facility includes 10 classrooms, a library, a teacher-training college, a community center, boys’ and girls’ dormitories, a sustainable farm, and sports facilities. Founded in 2006, the VAD Foundation's origins stem from Valentino Achak Deng's personal experiences. Born in South Sudan, Deng fled his home during the civil war, spending his formative years in refugee camps. Through his advocacy work, collaborations, and memoir, Deng highlights the importance of education and the need to rebuild South Sudanese communities. For more information about the Valentino Achak Deng Foundation, visit vadfoundation.org.