M. Night Shyamalan Foundation

Mnsf News

M. Night Shyamalan Foundation in Sudan for Valentino's School Opening

In August of 2009, the M. Night Shyamalan Foundation traveled to Marial Bai, Sudan to attend the official opening ceremony for the Marial Bai Secondary school built by the Valentino Achack Deng Foundation.

The school is the first fully-functional secondary school in the entire region, where after twenty years of war, students have had no other opportunities to continue their education.

Valentino designed the school and construction was completed in spring 2009. Classes started in early May. Thousands of students from near and far applied to enroll, and a pilot class of about one hundred students was admitted; more students and higher-level classes will be added as the school grows and develops. Valentino's further hope is to change cultural traditions and make education an equal priority for girls in the area.  He has identified an eventual goal of 50% female students and is planning to build a dormitory for girls which will work to eliminate some of the obstacles that interfere with their success in education.

The Marial Bai Secondary School is the first phase of the Foundation's initiative to create a viable and community-driven educational center in Marial Bai, comprising the school, a library, a teacher-training college, sports fields, and a community center.

See photos from the visit here.

See video footage of the day's activities and celebration here.