Photo:

Caption: Akeer and her grandchild at a transit centre in Renk, a bordering town between Sudan and South Sudan.

Credits: Paula Casado/Jesuit Refugee Service Eastern Africa

For our Elements and Rudiments 2023 Advent Social outreach programme, we want to continue our partnership with IJI (Irish Jesuit International) and direct our collective efforts to support the Jesuit co-ed secondary school and their students in Wau, South Sudan. Loyola Secondary School (LSS), was occupied by armed forces for 26 years during civil conflict before being re-opened in 2006. The Jesuits here lived through a lot of conflict and insecurity but are making this school into a beacon of hope and possibility, within which students evolve a dream for their lives. This year the school was the best performing in the State in the second level leaving exams.

Belvedere College SJ has a long-standing relationship with Loyola Secondary School and through the years, we have maintained support through times of conflict in helping our sister school develop classroom blocks, and support with financial aid for staffing and school supplies.

As we reflect on the milestones achieved, we are reminded of the ongoing challenges faced by the school, particularly in providing basic necessities for the students. In light of this, we urgently need your help to support their food program, which aims to ensure that every student has access to nutritious meals.

Sudan has faced numerous socio-economic challenges, exacerbating the difficulties for the vulnerable populations. The Jesuit School, being a beacon of hope for education, is deeply committed to nurturing the minds and bodies of its students. However, the current economic climate has strained their resources, making sustaining the school's food program increasingly challenging.

Your generous donation will directly impact the lives of these students, providing them with the sustenance they need to thrive academically and physically. By supporting our cause, you contribute to their well-being and the broader mission of education as a force for positive change. Together, let us celebrate our milestones by making a tangible difference in the lives of those most need it.

To learn more about our cause, please visit our Jesuits serving as witness in South Sudan - Irish Jesuits International (www.iji.ie) Every contribution, big or small, brings us one step closer to ensuring that no child at the Jesuit School in Sudan goes to bed hungry in the days, weeks and months ahead. Our first and second year students in Belvedere College are asked to do a sponsored fast (up to 12 hours) in solidarity with the students in LSS.