Canadian Jesuits International (CJI) is an international development agency of the Jesuits of English Canada that supports poor and marginalized people in the global south through the work of our partners in sustainable agriculture, education, health, refugees’ assistance, livelihood support, emergency relief and awareness raising and advocacy in Canada.

On June the 7th CJI joined the campaign PRAY-GIVE-SPEAK OUT organized by an interfaith coalition to raise awareness and funds for victims of the famine affecting South Sudan, northeastern Nigeria, Somalia and Yemen.

CJI shares a testimony from a teacher in South Sudan; his school provides daily nutritious meals, education safe water, medical and psychosocial support to children and youth whom have fled conflict and famine.

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Dear friends,

Greetings! Our school is located in South Sudan, in a so called ‘rebel’ area which has become a battlefield between government forces and armed opposition. Our region is suffering from so many problems: famine, insecurity, economic hardship, cholera…

Recently we were doing very well in the school, having registered 600 students, our maximum capacity! Many parents prefer to bring their children to our school, as they feel it is the only school which is functioning in the area. Many refugees attend our school, they don’t have tents yet and it is hard for them to study while in the camps. They come to school very tired because they don’t sleep well. It is amazing the sacrifice students make, walking two hours to get to classes.

After the renewed clashes between government and armed opposition groups, more civilians were forced to seek protection in the Catholic Church compound in the town, and the UN camp. I heard from the students that many people were killed by soldiers as they went house to house searching for people from other groups.

Recent incidents have affected the school greatly. The students feel unsafe fearing revenge. Some parents do not allow their children to come to school, for fears that someone might kill them. At the school we have tried to engage different agencies to ensure our students’ safety.

The UN agency that deals with children rights and safety visited the school. Also the commissioner of the town and the local governor came. They went from class to class encouraging students to continue attending. He promised the students that they will be safe. These visits have given a little bit of renewed confidence to students, parents and teachers. After the clashes our numbers went drastically down, but now we have over 500 students, close to our full capacity again.

I am supporting students that have been greatly affected by the war. With those who have lost their loved ones, we try to discuss about their situations and we help them process what had happened to them and to draw strength from each other.

One student told me that he saw two bodies near his home and a couple killed by the road as they tried to flee. Others narrated how their neighbours were killed because they belonged to another tribe. I asked one student, “Have you ever wondered how all this can happen to you if God is Love?” Quickly this student replied “the problem is not with God; it is with human beings.”

Such words encourage me; I believe that I am doing a very important mission. These children need to be listened to and they need lots of support. We need to help them rediscover our humanity. For children born in South Sudan, ‘normal’ is living in a world of aggression, violence, razor wire and guns.

Thank you for taking interest in reading about what is happening in South Sudan and for being there to support us.

Your friend from South Sudan

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All photos are courtesy of Canadian Jesuits International/

Canadian Jesuits Internalional – cji@jesuits.ca – canadianjesuitsinternational.ca