VAD Foundation
International AffairsCalifornia, United States2-10 Employees
The Valentino Achak Deng (VAD) Foundation is a nonprofit organization focused on expanding access to quality education in South Sudan. Based in San Francisco, it operates within the international affairs space to empower war-affected communities through school construction, education access, and teacher-training programs. Its flagship project is the Marial Bai Secondary School, which is ranked third nationwide and features ten classrooms, a library, a teacher-training college, a community center, dormitories for boys and girls, a sustainable farm, and sports facilities. The school was the region's first facility of its kind and serves both students and the wider community. Valentino Achak Deng and author Dave Eggers founded the organization in 2006 to help rebuild South Sudanese communities after civil conflict. The foundation's mission centers on creating educational opportunities and training teachers to support literacy and girls' education in South Sudan, while delivering benefits to the broader community.