Louisville, Kentucky  |  Magwi, South Sudan

Empowering
South Sudanese
Communities —
Home and Abroad

Founded by Simon Ottaviano — Army veteran, MBA, and son of a Paramount Chief — AYAA bridges two continents through education, clean water, and community.

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200+
Students Served
1
School Built
2
Countries Connected
30 Yrs
Serving from America
What We Do

Our Mission in Action

Three pillars — education, water, and community — guide everything we do for the South Sudanese people here and in East Africa.

Education

Ayaa Senior Secondary School in Magwi Center, South Sudan serves 200+ students from Senior One through Senior Four. Named after Simon's mother, the school transforms lives through learning.

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Safe Water

In partnership with Louisville nonprofit WaterStep, we are bringing clean, safe water to the school and surrounding village — ending generations of bilharzia and waterborne disease from the River Ayii.

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Community Support

Right here in Louisville, Kentucky, AYAA supports South Sudanese immigrants and refugees with resources, connection, and advocacy — helping our community thrive in their adopted home.

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Simon Ottaviano, Founder and President of AYAA South Sudanese Community Organization
Simon Ottaviano
Founder & President, AYAA
The Founder's Journey

From Magwi to Louisville — A Story of Sacrifice and Service

Simon Ottaviano was born in Magwi County, South Sudan — Acholi territory in Eastern Equatoria — the son of Ottaviano Oyat, the Paramount Chief of the Acholi people in South Sudan. When civil war tore through his homeland, Simon fled to the United States in 1994.

He served six years in the U.S. Army, earned an MBA from Sullivan University in 2008, spent 12 years at Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, and became a licensed REALTOR. But through it all, he never forgot Magwi.

In 2022, Simon made the ultimate sacrifice: he sold his house and cashed out his 401(k) to build a school back home — the Ayaa Senior Secondary School, named after his mother.

Read Simon's Full Story

Urgent: Girls' Dormitory Campaign

Every school day, hundreds of girls walk 4 to 5 miles each way to reach Ayaa Senior Secondary School — crossing dangerous terrain, exposed to risk. A dormitory will keep them safe and in school. Your donation can change this.

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Our Impact

Making a Measurable Difference

200+
High School Students Enrolled
4
Grade Levels (Sr. One–Four)
1
Water Partnership (WaterStep)
501(c)3
Tax-Exempt Nonprofit
Make a Difference Today

Every Dollar Goes Directly
to the People of Magwi

AYAA is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Your contribution is fully tax-deductible and transforms lives on two continents. EIN: 88-3720394

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Life at Ayaa School

Students of Magwi — In Their Own Light

Female student at Ayaa Senior Secondary School
A student at Ayaa Senior Secondary School, Magwi
Students studying in pink uniforms
Students in class — Ayaa Senior Secondary School
Full classroom at Ayaa school
Hundreds of students in the main hall
Youth soccer team
Youth sports — community building through sport
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Watch His Story

See Why Simon Built a School With His Life Savings

WaterStep — AYAA's Louisville partner — documented Simon Ottaviano's extraordinary journey: from fleeing civil war in South Sudan to serving in the U.S. Army, earning his MBA, and ultimately sacrificing his retirement to build a school named after his mother.

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Our Partners

Working Together for South Sudan

Official Partner

WaterStep — Louisville, Kentucky

WaterStep is a Louisville-based nonprofit bringing safe water technology to communities in need worldwide. Their partnership with AYAA is delivering clean water to Ayaa Senior Secondary School and the village of Magwi — where generations suffered from bilharzia disease caused by contaminated water from the River Ayii.