A New Chapter for Miyang School:
Education plays an important role in building stability and resilience in communities affected by conflict and hardship. In Abyei, however, access to safe and adequate learning facilities remains a persistent challenge. The rehabilitation of Minyang School by the Vietnamese Military Construction Engineering Contingent 4 (VMCEC-4) demonstrates how practical peacekeeping initiatives can contribute to improving educational conditions and support long-term community development.
Over the past five years, Minyang School suffered extensive damage due to severe storms and strong winds during seasonal rains. Large sections of the roof had been damaged, steel structures had weakened, and the school compound frequently became waterlogged hindering learning. Damaged desks and benches further complicated learning conditions. These challenges disrupted educational activities and created safety concerns for both students and teachers.
The deteriorating conditions prompted a coordinated action. VMCEC-4 worked closely with UNISFA mission support, the Abyei Education Department, local authorities, and school representatives to launch a comprehensive rehabilitation project. The initiative aimed to provide students with a safe learning environment.
Implementation of the project began in May this year and lasted for a month under challenging environmental conditions. Temperatures occasionally approached 50°C, while construction activities were further complicated by a difficult terrain and limited resources. Despite these challenges, Vietnamese peacekeepers carried out a broad range of activities, including infrastructure rehabilitation, furniture production, vocational training, and humanitarian assistance.
On 8 July, in the presence of the OIC Ag. Head of Mission & Force Commander, Brigadier General Adebowale Ajagbe, and the Director for Peacekeeping at the Ministry of Defence of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, local authorities, teachers, parents, and students, Vietnamese engineers held the official handover ceremony. The ceremony marked the successful completion of the project and symbolized UNISFA’s commitment to supporting resilient educational infrastructure. Speeches, cultural performances, and a tour of the rehabilitated facilities were organised.
Brigadier General Adebowale Ajagbe, thanked Vietnamese peacekeepers for their significant contribution to strengthening quality education in Abyei and acknowledged the vital role the engineers continue to play in advancing infrastructure development in the mission and across Abyei. He encouraged the community to make the best use of the rehabilitated facility.
The Deputy Director for Peacekeeping at the Ministry of Defence of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, Colonel Pham Tan Phong, recalled Vietnam’s longstanding commitment to international peace and security and noted that the Vietnamese engineers will continue to effectively contribute to UNISFA’s mandate implementation in the spirit of cooperation.
Abyei Minister of Education, Karbino Dut, on behalf of the community, expressed appreciation to the Engineering team and to UNISFA and pledged to ensure that the infrastructure was well maintained by the community.
The engineering works significantly transformed the school. A total of 278.8 square metres of roofing sheets were replaced, and damaged steel structures were reinforced and treated with anti-corrosion coatings. VMCEC-4 fabricated and installed a new school gate and produced or repaired 60 sets of student desks and benches. The renovated four-classroom block can now accommodate approximately 320 to 400 students. The newly produced desks and benches have enhanced learning conditions for around 180 children.
The project extended beyond infrastructure rehabilitation. Capacity-building formed an important component of the initiative through carpentry vocational training activities for approximately 100 local students. Participants received practical instruction on the identification and safe use of tools, measurement techniques, material preparation, and basic woodworking skills.
For many students, the training represented their first opportunity to observe and participate in the process of physically making furniture. The programme sought to encourage self-reliance and provide young people with practical skills that may support their livelihood opportunities.
Beyond the renovation of classroom buildings, the schoolyard that was previously inaccessible during periods of heavy rainfall, limiting students' mobility and restricting outdoor activities was cleared and levelled. The engineers filled low-lying sections, improved drainage channels, and compacted the ground surface. Approximately 5,000 square metres of the school compound underwent rehabilitation.
VMCEC-4 additionally distributed 2,000 sets of clothing, 500 kilograms of rice, 200 litres of cooking oil, 1,000 notebooks, 200 pens, and other essential supplies to local families and students. These contributions addressed immediate needs while reinforcing the relationship between peacekeepers and the local community.
The Minyang project reflects the commitment of Vietnamese peacekeepers to supporting local communities through practical and sustainable actions. Its legacy therefore lies not only in the infrastructure that was rebuilt, but in the opportunities created and the hope restored for future generations.
