In July 2018, while visiting the United States of America, The Diocesan Bishop of the Episcopal Church of South Sudan, Diocese of Nzara, the  Rt. Rev. Samuel Enosa Peni and his wife Ambassador Mama Aida Wande Peni were invited to attend the Episcopal General Convention, held in Austin, Texas.  It was at this meeting where they visited the booth of Girls Friendly Society (GFS). After reading and talking to the ladies there, Mama Aida fell in love with it and promised to form GFS in the Diocese of Nzara, where her husband was the diocesan Bishop.

Girls Friendly Society, was formed in diocese of Nzara in August 2018 by Ambassador Mama Aida Wande Peni, who by virtue being the wife of Bishop, and was the Mothers Union President of Nzara Diocese. In December 2018, She was invited officially to attend GFS Conference in Kigali, Rwanda where she was declared to be the GFS National president of South Sudan.

In March 2019, the Rt. Rev. Samuel Enosa Peni, was elected to be the Archbishop of Western Equatoria Internal Province, as well as the Diocesan Bishop of the Diocese of Yambio. So he and his wife moved to Yambio. In June- 2019 GFS was officially formed in the diocese of Yambio. It is formed in two Parishes (All Saints Cathedral and St. Joseph Parish Naagori).

So far it is in two dioceses (Nzara and Yambio). There many groups coming up in various parishes and dioceses within Western Equatoria Internal Province. The Archbishop and his Bishops are planning a pastoral visit this December. This will be a moment for other diocese to learn about GFS and take it to their dioceses.

GFS focus in South Sudan is to work hard to build a strong girls friendly Society in a post war nation where illiteracy is big issue among girls and school drop outs. GFS would like to see girls empowered skills and ability to lead in development.

To realize this goal, we have opened a GFS nursery school where we have about 150 pupils where GFS norms and ethics are taught. This is where we need support to pay well trained Christian teachers, who will teach our values.

In February 2022 Mama Aida Wande Peni was ordained as an Anglican priest. 

Contact:   aida.wande2012@gmail.com

​                       esaupeni@yahoo.co.uk