SOUTH SUDAN: Salesians continue to provide social and education support for people who are displaced
Work combines emergency relief with development
SOUTH SUDAN
(MissionNewswire) Salesian missionaries continue to support people in displaced and vulnerable communities in Tonj, Maridi, Kuajok, Wau and Don Bosco Gumbo in Juba, South Sudan*, as violence in the country persists. South Sudan became an independent country in July 2011, but the long-awaited peace has not materialized for the majority of the population. Violence, internal conflicts, food insecurity, floods and a lack of essential services have forced millions of people to flee their homes.
The Salesian Mission Office in Madrid is currently active in South Sudan. Ara Tena, a volunteer, sums up the work in the country as a presence that combines emergency relief with development.
At Don Bosco Gumbo, the Salesians have been supporting people displaced by the conflict by providing shelter, food, basic services, and assistance to people who are vulnerable, such as single mothers, orphans, and the elderly. In recent months, they have also increased emergency aid in the refugee camp.
Tena said, “We have just completed an emergency operation in the Gumbo refugee camp, where we distributed plastic sheeting to cover tents and food supplies, as part of the ongoing support we have been providing for years.”
Alongside this humanitarian response, development projects aim to reduce dependence on aid and create opportunities for the future. In the Tonj area, Salesians are working with vulnerable rural communities to improve their nutrition through sustainable agriculture. The initiative also includes awareness-raising activities on Hansen’s disease and a peace-building component integrated into all Salesian projects in the country.
In Tonj and Maridi, Salesians are focused on providing technical education for young women. A facility already exists in Tonj, while in Maridi there are plans to build and equip a technical education center specializing in cooking, food preservation, sewing and dressmaking.
For Tena, this type of work addresses a clear priority. “We believe it is necessary to empower women, especially economically, so that they can generate their own income and improve their social status. In a country where gender inequalities remain deeply entrenched, vocational education can pave the way to self-reliance for women and families living in situations of extreme vulnerability.”
In Kuajok, the Salesian Mission Office, together with Boscoaid, has developed inclusive, equitable and high-quality educational projects for development and peace-building. Salesian projects include a scholarship program for youth that will support more than 1,000 students from 10 selected Salesian schools.
“We understand that everything we do for peace and peaceful coexistence is fundamental, because South Sudan is a country that has never known peace,” concluded Tena.
Salesian missionaries in South Sudan are dedicated to providing programs and services across the country. Salesian missionaries provide education, social development services, nutrition programs, and health clinics for poor youth and their families. For some, the education offered at Salesian schools is the only opportunity to gain an education and the skills necessary for future employment.
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Sources:
Salesian Missions – South Sudan
*Any goods, services or funds provided by Salesian Missions to programs located in this country were administered in compliance with applicable laws and regulations, including sanctions administered by the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Asset Control.
