SOUTH SUDAN

(MissionNewswire) Salesian missionaries with St. Vincent de Paul Parish are operating the Don Bosco Gumbo camp for internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Juba, South Sudan*. The camp, established in January 2014 after the outbreak of the civil war in December 2013, currently hosts 10,000 people, most of whom are women, children and the elderly. Salesians provide shelter, food, education, medical care and other basic needs.

In addition to the camp, Don Bosco Gumbo provides education for more than 4,000 children and older youth in its schools. There are two kindergartens, two primary-middle schools, an accelerated elementary school, a secondary school, and vocational training center which offers courses in electricity, mechanics, stoneworks-masonry, solar panel technician, welding and computer studies. More than 700 older youth gain skills for later employment through this training.

“Salesians constantly look for ways to expand what they offer, ensuring that those who need it most have their needs met,” said Father Gus Baek, director of Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. “The camp now has a Salesian medical clinic, a women’s promotion center, and sports camps to keep the children active and engaged. The clinic has been especially important during the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Most of people living in nearby villages have had little or no access to face masks, hand sanitizers, and immunization. They have also had little information about the spread of COVID-19, leaving the population at risk. Salesians are working to create awareness and provide information to create healthy practices to fight the disease.

Salesians are also providing face masks, soap and hand sanitizers. After this project launched, students, young adults, and people who are working started taking the necessary precautions while women in the villages and older people focused on engaging in the awareness programs and helping to spread the message. Cooked meals were also provided for students and adults who required better nutrition.

South Sudan gained its independence from Sudan in 2011 but has faced an ongoing civil war that started in December 2013 and resulted in a dire humanitarian crisis even before the coronavirus pandemic. Responding to the civil strife is nothing new to Salesian missionaries in South Sudan, who are dedicated to the programs and services they are providing across the country.

South Sudan is expansive and largely rural with 83 percent of the population residing in rural areas. Poverty is endemic with at least 80 percent of the population defined as income-poor and living on the equivalent of less than $1 per day, according to the World Bank. More than one-third of the population lacks secure access to food.

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Sources:

ANS Photo (usage permissions and guidelines must be requested from ANS)

Australian Salesian Missions Overseas Annual Report 2021

Australian Salesian Missions Overseas Aid Fund

Salesian Missions – South Sudan

World Bank – 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.

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SOUTH SUDAN

(MissionNewswire) Don Bosco Kuajok in South Sudan was started three years ago on land barely fit for agricultural use. Today, it’s a thriving Salesian community with a primary school that educates 300 children and employs nine teachers. There is also a program that offers addiction treatment and rehabilitation for street children who are roaming the market in the center of Kuajok. An oratory opens each day and provides for those in distant parts of Kuajok, who are most often internally displaced people.

Brother Lothar Wagner, who is now in Liberia, started the rehabilitation of street children in this area. With the support of Don Bosco Bonn in Germany, 150 children have been returned to their families since 2019. Some children have started school. The program has expanded over three years to also include a Salesian house with volunteer rooms and a medical dispensary. Salesians are able to drive people to the town hospital in cases of emergency.

“Salesian missionaries in South Sudan and around the globe provide safety, shelter and education for street children,” said Father Gus Baek, director of Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. “This Salesian program aims to help children live safely while getting the emotional support they need and the education that will help them live independently. It’s a second chance for these children to have hope for a better life.”

South Sudan gained its independence from Sudan in 2011 but has faced an ongoing civil war that resulted in a dire humanitarian crisis even before the coronavirus pandemic. Responding to the civil strife is nothing new to Salesian missionaries in South Sudan, who are dedicated to the programs and services they are providing across the country.

South Sudan is expansive and largely rural with 83 percent of the population residing in rural areas. Poverty is endemic with at least 80 percent of the population defined as income-poor and living on the equivalent of less than $1 per day, according to the World Bank. More than one-third of the population lacks secure access to food.

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ANS Photo (usage permissions and guidelines must be requested from ANS)

ANS – South Sudan – Don Bosco Kuajok: Street Children at the heart of Salesian Apostolate

Salesian Missions – South Sudan

World Bank – 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.

The post SOUTH SUDAN: Students and street children receive education, services first appeared on MissionNewswire.

SOUTH SUDAN

(MissionNewswire) Salesian missionaries have been working in Gumbo, South Sudan, helping thousands of people over the last several years. Salesians operate a parish, an elementary school for 1,800 students, a high school with 450 students, a technical school, an oratory and a camp for those who have been internally displaced that is home to 9,500 people. Salesians also work in collaboration with the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, who run another elementary school, and the Sisters of Charity of Jesus, who provide a health dispensary.

Most recently, the Salesian Missionary Foundation, based in Warsaw, Poland, built a school in Gumbo for poor children in the area. Father Piotr Gozdalski, president of the foundation, said, “In the elementary school, we have 140 students per class. The school was in dire need of new spaces. The four classrooms built are helping to divide the groups and have fewer students per class, which benefits the safety of everyone and the quality of education offered.”

Last year, the Salesian Missionary Foundation also paid for meals for 700 elementary school students and provided food for 700 of the neediest families in the camp. The foundation also supplied the dispensary with medicines and products for hygiene and personal care. Educational sessions were held to encourage the adoption of healthy habits.

As part of the same project supported by Polish aid, this year the Salesian Missionary Foundation is planning to continue to help 700 elementary school students and 700 families in the camp with food aid. The foundation will also provide financial support to a mobile clinic for people living in the villages so they have some access to medical care.

Two new projects are also being launched. Salesians are installing solar-powered lamps to bring more light and security to the camp. They will also construct a sports field to promote physical activity and healthy fun among the children in the camp. Fr. Gozdalski added, “The school teachers, the kids and the people are very happy to be able to count on our support. And we, like Don Bosco, are happy to give it to them.”

South Sudan gained its independence from Sudan in 2011 but has faced an ongoing civil war that started in December 2013 and resulted in a dire humanitarian crisis even before the coronavirus pandemic. Responding to the civil strife is nothing new to Salesian missionaries in South Sudan, who are dedicated to the programs and services they are providing across the country.

South Sudan is expansive and largely rural with 83 percent of the population residing in rural areas. Poverty is endemic with at least 80 percent of the population defined as income-poor and living on the equivalent of less than $1 per day, according to the World Bank. More than one-third of the population lacks secure access to food.

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ANS Photo (usage permissions and guidelines must be requested from ANS)

ANS – South Sudan – International Salesian solidarity brings hope to Gumbo children and poor

Salesian Missions – South Sudan

World Bank – 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.

The post SOUTH SUDAN: Families receive food, medicine in camp for internally displaced first appeared on MissionNewswire.

SOUTH SUDAN

(MissionNewswire) Salesian missionaries from Don Bosco Gumbo, who are hosting more than 10,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) in a camp in Juba, Gumbo, South Sudan, received food aid thanks to donor funding from Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. Salesians are providing food, shelter, sanitation facilities, medical care and education.

“Your continued support has helped our most vulnerable members of the IDP population to receive food rations and additional non-food items,” said Father Shyjan Job, economer of the Don Bosco Sudan Delegation. “The intermittent rains have affected the IDPs with waterborne diseases such as malaria. Also, many of the makeshift tents are destroyed. We managed to procure the essential supplies and plastic sheets for the temporary shelters for the IDPs.”

South Sudan gained its independence from Sudan in 2011 but has faced an ongoing civil war that started in December 2013 and resulted in a dire humanitarian crisis even before the pandemic. Responding to the civil strife is nothing new to Salesian missionaries in South Sudan, who are dedicated to the programs and services they are providing across the country.

The camp in Juba is currently home to more than 10,000 people, mostly women and children.

The camp in Juba for those who have been internally displaced has been consistently growing since the outbreak of war and is currently home to more than 10,000 people, mostly women and children. Without this camp, people would be left destitute with nothing to eat, nowhere to go and no access to any form of education.

At Don Bosco Gumbo, which oversees the camp, 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.

South Sudan is expansive and largely rural with 83 percent of the population residing in rural areas. Poverty is endemic with at least 80 percent of the population defined as income-poor and living on the equivalent of less than $1 per day, according to the World Bank. More than one-third of the population lacks secure access to food.

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Sources:

Salesian Missions – South Sudan

World Bank – 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.

The post SOUTH SUDAN: Internally displaced persons receive food through Salesian Missions first appeared on MissionNewswire.

SOUTH SUDAN

(MissionNewswire) Salesian missionaries at the Don Bosco Gumbo camp for internally displaced persons (IDP) in Juba, South Sudan, were able to provide food, hygiene products and other items to help care for the well-being of those in the camp thanks to donor funding from Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. The camp is run by Salesians from St. Vincent de Paul Parish and is home to 9,742 people, the majority women and children with no husbands or fathers, the elderly, and orphans. The camp was established in January 2014 after the outbreak of civil war in December 2013.

Funding from Salesian Missions helped support 230 of the most vulnerable in the camp for two months. Those who received food assistance and other supplies were orphans, widows and widowers, households headed by children, the psychologically stressed and depressed, and other vulnerable groups. Each person received 44 pounds (20kg) of ground flour, 2.2 pounds (1kg) of salt, 3.17 quarts (3 liters) of cooking oil and 11 pounds (5kgs) of beans per month. They also received soap and other hygiene supplies.

Funding from Salesian Missions helped support 230 of the most vulnerable people in the Don Bosco Gumbo camp for two months.

The food support is important because the prices of cereals and pulses are at record highs—up to 400 percent compared to the average cost. The decline in oil price has crippled the government’s social services sector and negatively affected the population. The humanitarian situation in the country is predicted to worsen in the coming months as a result of COVID-19, the desert locust invasion and continued inter-communal violence.

Fighting between the National Salvation Front (NAS), South Sudan People’s Defense Force (SSPDF), and Sudan People’s Liberation Army-in-Opposition (SPLA-IO) in Lainya County, Central Equatoria State, affected 30,000 people and displaced 5,700 in June. An additional 7,000 people were displaced by inter-communal fighting in Terekeka County, Central Equatoria State. Inter-communal violence and cattle raids in parts of Central and Western Equatoria, Jonglei, Unity, and Warrap states also resulted in the displacement of a further 5,000 people.

“We appreciate our donors who help us ensure Salesian missionaries at Don Bosco Gumbo who are caring for the most vulnerable have the food and supplies they need,” said Father Gus Baek, director of Salesian Missions. “Those who have been internally displaced by ongoing violence in South Sudan are among the most vulnerable. They have lost everything and are turning to Salesian missionaries for safety during this difficult time. Salesians are there to provide shelter and basic needs and help them make a plan for the future.”

South Sudan gained its independence from Sudan in 2011 but has faced an ongoing civil war that started in December 2013 and resulted in a dire humanitarian crisis even before the coronavirus pandemic. Responding to the civil strife is nothing new to Salesian missionaries in South Sudan, who are dedicated to the programs and services they are providing across the country.

South Sudan is expansive and largely rural with 83 percent of the population residing in rural areas. Poverty is endemic with at least 80 percent of the population defined as income-poor and living on the equivalent of less than $1 per day, according to the World Bank. More than one-third of the population lacks secure access to food.

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Sources:

Photos courtesy of Salesian Missions (contact for usage permissions)

Salesian Missions – South Sudan

World Bank – 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.

The post SOUTH SUDAN: Food aid at camp for internally displaced persons provided through Salesian Missions funding first appeared on MissionNewswire.

SOUTH SUDAN

(MissionNewswire) Gladys, who was a widow and mother at 25, recently landed her dream job as a professional driver at the United Nations in Juba, South Sudan. She credits her time as a refugee and her Salesian education for her advancements. Gladys was forced to flee from her home and seek refuge at the Palabek Refugee Settlement Camp in Uganda.

As a refugee, Gladys attended the motorcycle repair course at the Don Bosco Technical School in Palabek. She was the only woman among many men. Gladys said, “I don’t care that they’re all men. I want to learn how to repair motorcycles to avoid danger when I return to South Sudan.” She rode a motorbike home to South Sudan to see her son who was with his grandmother.

To attend the class, Gladys had to get up at dawn and walk nearly four miles every day to get to classes on time. She was part of the first class of graduates at the Don Bosco Technical School. While studying, Gladys used her small sewing machine to earn money for traveling on weekends. When she finished her lessons, her commitment and her involvement led her to take care of the materials warehouse of the technical school. Thanks to the support of Salesian missionaries and the Salesian organization Jóvenes y Desarrollo, Gladys was also able to learn to drive a car and obtained her license.

Recently, she passed a driving test for the U.N. office in Juba and was hired. Gladys was so overjoyed by her accomplishment she returned to Palabek to thank Salesians for the educational opportunities they have given her. Her next challenge is to continue studying and ensure that her son can have a better future and live in peace.

The Palabek Refugee Settlement Camp is currently home to 56,000 people. It was officially set up in April 2016 to reduce congestion in larger refugee camps in the northwestern corner of Uganda. Several agencies are involved in providing food and education within the settlement.

Salesian missionaries at the settlement are offering much needed psycho-social support and pastoral care for thousands of Christian residents. They also operate four nursery schools that educate more than 1,000 children. In addition, there are over 700 children attending Salesian primary and secondary schools and more than 700 families that are supported by various other initiatives.

Young refugees are also able to attend vocational training courses for free. Depending on the discipline, some courses will run for three to six months while others will run as long as a year. Salesian missionaries have also set up a job placement office that will help students make contact with companies that are hiring, prepare resumes and prep for interviews, and find internships and onsite training opportunities.

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ANS Photo (usage permissions and guidelines must be requested from ANS) 

ANS – South Sudan – Gladys, from young refugee to United Nations driver

Don Bosco Palabek Refugee Resettlement Camp

Salesian Missions – Uganda

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.

The post SOUTH SUDAN: Former refugee lands dream job first appeared on MissionNewswire.

SOUTH SUDAN

(MissionNewswire) Salesian Father Omar Delasa has a degree in medicine, and he lives and works in Sesto San Giovanni, Milan, Italy—but he flies to Tonj, South Sudan, whenever possible to work on a project he founded years ago. He founded TonjProject Onlus and, with the support of volunteers, has helped create an obstetric and gynecological hospital with 50 beds and a minor surgery ward. Fr. Delasa was recently highlighted in Marie Claire magazine’s Italian edition.

Fr. Delasa went to Tonj for the first time in 2006 when South Sudan was still a part of Sudan. The country suffered war for 22 years to gain independence, which happened in 2011. Fr. Delasa felt a great affection for the people in Tonj who had fought so hard and had so little. He started the hospital to provide for those who otherwise might not have access to medical care.

In the interview with Marie Claire, Fr. Delasa said, “There are many forgotten lives and problems that nobody wants to take on. Around all this sadness that often takes the name of exclusion, poverty, war, hunger, there is the fantastic world of volunteers. I would like to give visibility to this ‘silent army’ that changes its own life and at the same time that of many other people. I want people to understand Tonj, its problems, hospital, children and their mothers. Volunteers have the opportunity to dig a well, build a new photovoltaic system, set up scholarships, buy medicines and train health personnel.”

Fr. Delasa added, “This passion, which is much more to me, is a vocation. It was born by chance. From an early age, I understood that the poor and the needy could have an important place in my life and in my choices. I come from a very small village in the Bergamo mountains, where people know each other and helped each other. This led me to choose first the faculty of medicine and surgery and then the consecrated life in the Congregation of the Salesians of Don Bosco. South Sudan in general and Tonj in particular arrived later, almost by chance, following a request to try to experience myself in a missionary experience.”

Fr. Delasa mentioned in the article that there is always more for him to learn and that he is always finding ways to grow to be more supportive of those in need. He noted, “I would like to be understanding, attentive, always have a word of encouragement, a simple gesture that can instill confidence. I’d like to be more reflective and give more to those who have had less… and I know that the world, even if they don’t make noise, is full of these willing and committed people.”

Salesian missionaries have been working in Tonj for several years. Their focus has been on providing education and social development services for poor youth through the operation of primary and secondary schools and youth centers. In addition, the missionaries operate several medical clinics, including a leprosy clinic, as well as a hospital.

South Sudan is expansive and largely rural with 83 percent of the population residing in rural areas. Poverty is endemic with at least 80 percent of the population defined as income-poor and living on the equivalent of less than $1 per day, according to the World Bank. More than one-third of the population lacks secure access to food.

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ANS Photo (usage permissions and guidelines must be requested from ANS)

ANS – South Sudan – Fr Omar Delasa: #time2share

Marie Claire magazine Italian edition

Don Bosco Mission Tonj Facebook

Salesian Missions – South Sudan

World Bank – 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.

The post SOUTH SUDAN: Volunteers help provide hospital, medical care first appeared on MissionNewswire.

SOUTH SUDAN

(MissionNewswire) Don Bosco Mission in Tonj, a town in the northwest region of South Sudan, has been able to support more than 3,500 internally displaced people with a recent COVID-19 initiative. The organization received support from Salesian Missions in Madrid, Spain, to offer help to those internally displaced in Tonj and the western state of Bahr el Ghazal.

Families found themselves faced with violent border conflicts and were left homeless. They were forced to take refuge in the adjacent forests without food, water, shelter, sanitation and medicine. After being contacted and registered as internally displaced, the families received basic necessities from the Don Bosco Mission.

Those receiving the donation expressed happiness and great appreciation for the commitment of Salesian missionaries who have continued to provide support to vulnerable communities and those most affected by conflicts. In addition to the distribution of primary goods and medicines, radio programs were also broadcast in recent months with measures to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

Internally displaced families in South Sudan received basic necessities from the Don Bosco Mission.

“The health standards of families, and especially of children, have improved thanks to the supply of medicines,” said Father Joseph James Nakholi, a Salesian in South Sudan. “The population has also recovered emotionally and psychologically after the intervention of the Salesians.”

Salesian missionaries have been working in Tonj for several years. Their focus has been on providing education and social development services for poor youth through the operation of primary and secondary schools and youth centers. In addition, the missionaries operate several medical clinics, including a leprosy clinic, as well as a hospital.

Support through this initiative was also provided to people with leprosy who live in a village, thanks to the intervention of the Salesian Mission Office of South Korea and the John Lee Memorial Foundation, which was launched in memory of the late Korean Salesian missionary Father John Lee, to help the mission in South Sudan.

The leprosy program was started by Fr. Lee who arrived at the Salesian mission in Tonj in 2001. He remained until 2008 when he went on a trip to South Korea. It was there that doctors discovered Fr. Lee had cancer, and he passed away 14 months later. During his time in South Sudan, Fr. Lee constructed an outpatient clinic and made repairs to the primary school building.

A hospital named for Fr. Lee was opened in Tonj in late July 2014 after four years of planning and construction. The current facility consists of maternity and surgical wards and a residence for medical and administrative staff. The hospital was fully operational in 2015. Volunteer doctors from Italy provide medical care at the hospital.

South Sudan is expansive and largely rural with 83 percent of the population residing in rural areas. Poverty is endemic with at least 80 percent of the population defined as income-poor and living on the equivalent of less than $1 per day, according to the World Bank. More than one-third of the population lacks secure access to food.

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ANS Photo (usage permissions and guidelines must be requested from ANS)

ANS – South Sudan – Salesians support internally displaced persons and most vulnerable

Don Bosco Mission Tonj

Salesian Missions – South Sudan

World Bank – 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.

The post SOUTH SUDAN: Don Bosco Mission Tonj provides support to 3,500 people who have been internally displaced first appeared on MissionNewswire.

SOUTH SUDAN

(MissionNewswire) The Don Bosco Health Center, part of the St. Vincent de Paul Parish and the Don Bosco Gumbo community in Gumbo, South Sudan, is caring for the sick while working to help prevent coronavirus. The Don Bosco Health Center was launched in 2012 with the support of the Caritas Sisters of Jesus. Initially, about 30 patients were seen a day in three small rooms. Today, the Don Bosco Health Center is treating up to 200 patients each day on average.

The health center provides essential services to people in villages who don’t otherwise have access to medical care. Gumbo is located at the center of 20 villages along the left bank of the Nile River, while the town of Juba and other villages are on the right bank. There are no proper hospitals or dispensaries in any of these 20 villages. The nearest one is the hospital of Juba.

Since opening the health center, services have been expanded to meet a growing need. In addition to the primary office location, there are now mobile clinics, a HIV/AIDS rehabilitation program, a nutrition program and child health care. Medical care has become even more essential in the face of the pandemic.

Father Shyjan, economer in South Sudan, said, “Now with the pandemic we are facing many challenges. First of all, the health care system in the country is poor, and we lack prepared health care professionals. Secondly, most of the population lacks the understanding about the pandemic and its seriousness. There are myths about it like this disease is only for white people or for the rich, that the virus does not survive in the hot climate of South Sudan, that the government is lying about it just to get money from foreign help. We have to work to combat these misconceptions while trying to keep people healthy and safe.”

The Don Bosco Health Center provides essential services to people in villages in South Sudan who don’t otherwise have access to medical care.

To help do that, the Don Bosco Health Center held a three-day workshop about coronavirus and prevention strategies. There were follow-up seminars and training for health care staff. One of the biggest challenges medical professionals face is testing and treatment. There are only two laboratories in the country able to do the test and one facility with limited beds to keep people in quarantine. South Sudan has only four ventilators in the country. Most of the population can’t keep social distance because the numerous family members live in homes with one or two rooms and have informal jobs for survival.

With the support of donors, the Don Bosco Health Center has been able to buy a thermometer, gloves, surgical masks and other personal protective equipment for the staff at the center. The center has also installed hand-washing facilities with soap at the entrance of the clinic. Medications have been bought that are provided to patients at a low cost and for free for those in the internally displaced persons (IDP) camp. Don Bosco Center staff members continue to assess the situation and meet the needs of those most impacted in their community.

South Sudan is expansive and largely rural with 83 percent of the population residing in rural areas. Poverty is endemic with at least 80 percent of the population defined as income-poor and living on the equivalent of less than $1 per day, according to the World Bank. More than one-third of the population lacks secure access to food.

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Sources:

Photos courtesy of Salesian Missions (contact for usage permissions)

Don Bosco Training Center Gumbo Facebook

Salesian Missions – South Sudan

World Bank – 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.

The post SOUTH SUDAN: Don Bosco Health Center provides medical care for people in 20 villages first appeared on MissionNewswire.

SOUTH SUDAN

(MissionNewswire) Salesian missionaries in South Sudan are working with local populations as the effects of coronavirus spread across the country. There is a serious economic crisis happening in South Sudan mainly due to the drop in oil prices, the devaluation of the local currency and excessive dependence on imports. Commodity prices are at an all-time high, and it is estimated that 5.29 million people (45 percent of the population) were living in conditions of severe food insecurity as of January 2020.

On April 5, 2020, South Sudan confirmed the first case of COVID-19, after which the government issued restrictive measures to prevent the spread of the virus. The restrictions had an impact on the local economy, causing commodity prices to rise and creating stress in the markets and insecurity in the population.

There are five Salesian communities in the country. In Gumbo, Salesian missionaries have a parish, a technical-vocational training center, elementary and middle schools, a women’s promotion center, and a youth center. There is also a camp for internally displaced persons directly managed by the Salesians. The camp currently has 9,800 people—not counting very young children—who have all fled the violence of the 2013-2016 civil war.

Salesian missionaries have continued their work on behalf of the most vulnerable families. There have been distributions of food, water and basic necessities, such as sanitary kits, mattresses, soap and plastic sheets to cover the roofs. Awareness campaigns were also launched to ensure that refugees were following protocols directed by the Ministry of Health to ensure proper hygiene to help stop the spread of the virus.

“The biggest fear we have is an epidemic in the camp. The tents are close and there is no room for social distancing,” reported Salesians working in Gumbo. “Controlling the masses for any type of distribution is very difficult. The camp is adjacent to several crowded local communities. It is impossible to prevent the flow of people between the camp and these communities because there is no separation wall around the camp.”

Instability in the country remains high. Funding is inadequate and fails to meet the needs of all internally displaced persons nor does it cover medical expenses for the elderly and sick. Furthermore, the constant fluctuation of prices and the consequent economic difficulties remain a challenge for the country’s most vulnerable individuals. Salesians continue to assess the local needs and provide relief support as they can.

South Sudan is expansive and largely rural with 83 percent of the population residing in rural areas. Poverty is endemic with at least 80 percent of the population defined as income-poor and living on the equivalent of less than $1 per day, according to the World Bank. More than one-third of the population lacks secure access to food.

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Sources:

ANS Photo (usage permissions and guidelines must be requested from ANS) 

ANS – South Sudan – Working with refugees during Covid-19 pandemic

Salesian Missions – South Sudan

World Bank – 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.

The post SOUTH SUDAN: Salesian missionaries provide relief supplies as vulnerable populations face virus and economic crisis first appeared on MissionNewswire.

SOUTH SUDAN

(MissionNewswire) Students attending the Don Bosco Vocational Training Center in Juba, South Sudan, have received scholarships to help afford their education and continue their studies thanks to funding from Salesian Missions donors. The scholarships, which are mainly focused on female students, cover 50 percent of the school’s tuition, making it much easier for young women to gain an education.

One student, Ayany Pamela, said, “This program has given me the courage to return to school after completing my secondary education. I had not been able to continue in school because of financial problems. After noticing that women were given this opportunity, I became much motivated because it is now affordable for me. This program has contributed much in my personal life by allowing me to obtain knowledge and skills. Without it, I cannot imagine how I would have continued my education or found a good job.”

John Garry, a teacher at the Don Bosco Vocational Training Center, noted that the center and education provided have played a role in transforming the lives of youth in many ways. He said, “One of the good things I have seen since I joined the center in 2015 is the 50 percent school fees discount/scholarships offered to female students. This has encouraged more young women to gain an education. It has also encouraged families, who typically don’t value education for girls, to send their daughters to school.”

Scholarships at Don Bosco Vocational Training Center in South Sudan give young women a chance for an education.

In South Sudan, due to lack of financial support, many families force their girls into early marriages. The program’s goal is to reduce the incidence of early marriage and allow young women to gain an education and independence in the workplace.

Garry added, “As a citizen of the country, I see a lot of improvements as more girls gain an education. There are numbers of girls joining technical fields such as general electricity, auto mechanic and computer IT, which has not always been the case in South Sudan. Without any doubt, very soon our girls will compete with men in the development of the country in such fields. Don Bosco and our benefactors have given hope to many parents with very limited financial income.”

South Sudan gained its independence from Sudan in 2011 but has faced an ongoing civil war that started in December 2013 and has resulted in a dire humanitarian crisis even before the coronavirus pandemic. Responding to the civil strife is nothing new to Salesian missionaries in South Sudan, who are dedicated to the programs and services they are providing 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.

South Sudan is expansive and largely rural with 83 percent of the population residing in rural areas. Poverty is endemic with at least 80 percent of the population defined as income-poor and living on the equivalent of less than $1 per day, according to the World Bank. More than one-third of the population lacks secure access to food.

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Sources:

Photos courtesy of Salesian Missions (contact for usage permissions)

Salesian Missions – South Sudan

World Bank – 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.

The post SOUTH SUDAN: Salesian Missions donors provide funding for scholarships for young women to attend Don Bosco Vocational Training Center first appeared on MissionNewswire.

SOUTH SUDAN

(MissionNewswire) Salesian missionaries at St. Vincent de Paul Parish, who are operating the Don Bosco Gumbo camp for internally displaced persons (IDP) in Juba, South Sudan, have access to food, hygiene products and other items to help care for the well-being of those in the camp. The camp is home to 9,742 people, the majority women and children with no husbands or fathers, the elderly, and orphans. The camp was established in January 2014 after the outbreak of civil war in December 2013.

During the escalation of violence in South Sudan, St. Vincent de Paul Parish welcomed fleeing families and offered them a place to settle. Throughout the past six years, Salesian missionaries have been accommodating, feeding, educating, and offering medical treatment to the sick and vulnerable in the camp and across the Gumbo host community. A camp manager and supervisor were trained to provide management and oversight of the IDP camp.

The spread of COVID-19 in South Sudan has made the situation in the camp more difficult. The virus is happening during the lean season in the country when food insecurity is always at its worst. A swarm of locusts was also observed in several locations in Magwi County, Eastern Equatoria State, posing further threats to food security and livelihoods. The humanitarian situation in the country is predicted to worsen in the coming months as a result of COVID-19, the desert locust invasion and continued inter-communal violence.

With funding from Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco, Salesian missionaries at the camp were able to provide food aid rations for 275 internally displaced families. Each person received 10 kg of ground flour, 1 kg of salt, 1 liter of cooking oil and 5 kgs of beans per month. Missionaries were also able to distribute plastic roofing sheets, blankets, floor mats, soap and sanitary plastic jugs to 275 of the most vulnerable households.

“We are appreciative of our donors who help us ensure Salesian missionaries at Don Bosco Gumbo who are caring for the most vulnerable have the food and supplies they need,” said Father Gus Baek, director of Salesian Missions. “Salesian missionaries were also able to distribute soap and establish hand-washing stations throughout the camp and conduct temperature reading at camp entrances, as well as carry out a weekly sensitization program to prevent coronavirus from spreading.”

South Sudan gained its independence from Sudan in 2011 but has faced an ongoing civil war that started in December 2013 and resulted in a dire humanitarian crisis even before the coronavirus pandemic. Responding to the civil strife is nothing new to Salesian missionaries in South Sudan, who are dedicated to the programs and services they are providing across the country.

South Sudan is expansive and largely rural with 83 percent of the population residing in rural areas. Poverty is endemic with at least 80 percent of the population defined as income-poor and living on the equivalent of less than $1 per day, according to the World Bank. More than one-third of the population lacks secure access to food.

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Sources:

Photos courtesy of Salesian Missions (contact for usage permissions)

Salesian Missions – South Sudan

World Bank – 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.

The post SOUTH SUDAN: Salesian Missions provides funding to support Don Bosco Gumbo with nutritional assistance for 275 vulnerable displaced families first appeared on MissionNewswire.

SOUTH SUDAN

(MissionNewswire) Salesian missionaries in South Sudan are working with local populations as the effects of coronavirus spread across the country. According to the most updated official data, 10,000 people have been tested and 2,021 were positive. To date, 38 people have died. The challenge is preventing outbreaks because the country has a fragile local health system that cannot help an influx of people.

There are five Salesian communities in the country. In Gumbo, Salesian missionaries have a parish, a technical-vocational training center, elementary and middle schools, a women’s promotion center, and a youth center. There is also a camp for internally displaced persons directly managed by the Salesians. The camp currently has 9,800 people—not counting very young children—who have all fled the violence of the 2013-2016 civil war.

“The biggest fear we have is an epidemic in the camp. The tents are close and there is no room for social distancing,” reported Salesians working in Gumbo. “Controlling the masses for any type of distribution is very difficult. The camp is adjacent to several crowded local communities. It is impossible to prevent the flow of people between the camp and these communities because there is no separation wall around the camp.”

Several years ago, the Sisters of Charity of Jesus opened a small medical dispensary inside the camp. It has 10 beds, but no possibility of residential assistance nor a test facility, respirators or other specialized equipment. “It seems that there are only four respirators in the whole country,” added the Salesians.

In recent days, the archbishop of Juba, Msgr. Stephen Ameyu, made an informal visit to the Salesian camp. Salesians noted, “Msgr. Ameyu appreciated our awareness-raising efforts and our preventive measures and encouraged people to follow our advice. He blessed us and entrusted us to the protection of God. We need it!”

South Sudan is expansive and largely rural with 83 percent of the population residing in rural areas. Poverty is endemic with at least 80 percent of the population defined as income-poor and living on the equivalent of less than $1 per day, according to the World Bank. More than one-third of the population lacks secure access to food.

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Sources:

ANS Photos (usage permissions and guidelines must be requested from ANS) 

ANS – South Sudan – Gumbo IDP camp facing Covid-19 hazards

Salesian Missions – South Sudan

World Bank – 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.

The post SOUTH SUDAN: Salesian missionaries working to prevent coronavirus spread in camp for those internally displaced first appeared on MissionNewswire.

SOUTH SUDAN

(MissionNewswire) Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco, provided funding to Don Bosco Gumbo, located in Juba, South Sudan, to support coronavirus prevention efforts and nutrition assistance at a local camp for those internally displaced in the country.

“To date, South Sudan has four confirmed cases of COVID-19. A special task force is working toward contact tracing, testing and isolating more people, but the country is not prepared enough to face a pandemic of this magnitude,” said Father Shyjan, economer. “In the whole country, there are only four ventilators available at the moment. If the virus spreads like other countries, it will be a serious concern.”

South Sudan gained its independence from Sudan in 2011 but has faced an ongoing civil war that started in December 2013 and has resulted in a dire humanitarian crisis even before the coronavirus pandemic. Responding to the civil strife is nothing new to Salesian missionaries in South Sudan, who are dedicated to the programs and services they are providing across the country.

A camp in Juba for those who have been internally displaced has been consistently growing since the outbreak of war and is currently home to more than 10,000 people, mostly women and children. Without this camp, people would be left destitute with nothing to eat, nowhere to go and no access to any form of education.

With the funding from Salesian Missions, Salesian missionaries with Don Bosco Gumbo are putting several measures in place for the prevention of the virus. They have installed hand-washing facilities at all entry points and are installing hand-washing facilities at the camp for those who have been internally displaced. Salesian missionaries are also providing health check-ups for the internally displaced people (IDP) at the Don Bosco Dispensary. The check-ups are not COVID-19 screening but are for general health. Salesian missionaries are also providing one meal each day for more than 3,000 children at the IDP camp.

At Don Bosco Gumbo, 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.

South Sudan is expansive and largely rural with 83 percent of the population residing in rural areas. Poverty is endemic with at least 80 percent of the population defined as income-poor and living on the equivalent of less than $1 per day, according to the World Bank. More than one-third of the population lacks secure access to food.

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Sources:

Photo courtesy of Salesian Missions (contact for usage permissions)

Salesian Missions – South Sudan

World Bank – 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.

The post SOUTH SUDAN: Salesian Missions provides funding to support Don Bosco Gumbo with coronavirus prevention initiatives and food assistance first appeared on MissionNewswire.

SOUTH SUDAN

(MissionNewswire) More than 4,000 children are receiving an education in Salesian primary, secondary and vocational skills training schools in South Sudan. Due to recent famines, meals are also provided at schools, and for many, this is the only meal they eat for the day.

South Sudan gained its independence from Sudan in 2011 but has faced an ongoing civil war that started in December 2013 and has resulted in a dire humanitarian crisis. Responding to the civil strife is nothing new to Salesian missionaries in South Sudan who are dedicated to the programs and services they are providing across the country.

A camp in Juba for those who have been internally displaced has been consistently growing since the outbreak of war and is currently home to more than 10,000 people, mostly women and children. Without this camp, people would be left destitute with nothing to eat, nowhere to go and no access to any form of education.

Salesian Brother Jim Comino, who works within the camp, noted, “We are committed to helping refugees and those internally displaced through reconciliation activities and spiritual paths to achieve peace among the different tribes. We try to give inspiration and hope for a more humane future, living the Christian spirit.”

To help ensure the camp has enough food, an agricultural project was launched in the camp. The project helps to address both the educational and nutritional shortages in the region. An irrigation system was installed to allow crops of onions, beans, watermelons and other vegetables to be harvested. In addition, skills training was provided to local people to help maintain these crops. The corn harvested in September 2018 was enough to feed 3,000 children with breakfast for 30 days.

Ten solar-powered security lights that come on at night to help deter any intrusions or criminal activity targeted at the already vulnerable people were installed in the camp. These lights increase the general security of the camp, allowing people to feel safer and to get a better night’s sleep.

In addition to humanitarian aid, 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.

South Sudan is expansive and largely rural with 83 percent of the population residing in rural areas. Poverty is endemic with at least 80 percent of the population defined as income-poor and living on the equivalent of less than $1 per day, according to the World Bank. More than one-third of the population lacks secure access to food.

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Sources:

Australian Salesian Mission Overseas Aid Fund Annual Report 2018

Photo courtesy of Australian Salesian Mission Overseas Aid Fund Annual Report 2018

Salesian Missions – South Sudan

World Bank – 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.

The post SOUTH SUDAN: Salesian missionaries provide education and social programs to more than 4,000 children first appeared on MissionNewswire.