SOUTH SUDAN: “Leave Streets, Join Church-Based Schools to Build Yourself Morally and Spiritually” Catholic Nun’s Plea to Street Kids

Ginaba Lino

A Catholic nun in Juba, South Sudan on September 28, 2022, appealed to street children across the country to leave streets and join church- based schools to build themselves morally and spiritually.

Sister Margret Lakop of the congregation of Sacred Heart of Jesus urged children who are sheltering on the streets and have no one to care for them to come back and study with their brothers and sisters in the school.

“Our children on the streets, who have no one to care for them, may God bless them, touch their hearts to come back to their senses and study with their brothers and sisters,” said Sr. Lakop

The nun who teaches at Sister’s nursery school of Sacred Heart of Jesus made the call during a courtesy visit with some pupils of the kindergarten Nursery school to Sudan and South Sudan’s Bishops’ Conference on September 28 in Juba.

She encouraged parents to introduce their children to the church and let them learn how to pray for their spiritual growth so they can receive blessing and the grace from God for their lives.

The Catholic nun offers this opportunity of free learning to eight (8) street children every year.

Meanwhile, Secretary General of Sudan and South Sudan Catholic Bishop Conference (SSSCBC) Fr. Peter Suleiman has appreciated Sisters of Sacred Heart of Jesus for the visit, describing it as a historical visit to the institution.

Fr. Suleiman said, it’s another motive to children’s growth who are studying at all Catholic institutions to learn more about the life of Jesus and also know their responsibilities as they grow up.

“It’s good but also historical things, of course this is also another way of bringing up the children in a matured way to know their responsibilities and to know their places, ”He added.

Children from Sacred Heart Nursery entered Sudan and South Sudan Catholic Bishop Conference (SSSCBC) compound while singing songs of joy.

The children also led prayers and were later blessed by Fr. Peter Suleiman who sprinkled water on them, as a blessing to the innocent souls during their courtesy visit at the secretariat.

According to Mind and Soul Institute, a local charity that works with street children, over 3,000 children live on the street in the capital Juba and the number is increasing daily. Charity workers said other factors driving child homelessness include family break-ups, abuse, polygamy practices and neglect.