In 2015, Seeds of Wisdom opened a school in Pukuka, South Sudan. Near the end of the 2016 academic year, many families were forced to flee the area due to violence. We located many of our former students and their families in refugee camps in northern Uganda and continue our mission to provide education for the children of Pukuka by sponsoring 46 children into two Catholic boarding schools and by providing tutoring for former students who remain in refugee camps. In spite of many challenges, our students are thriving. This Advent, we want to share their stories to celebrate their achievements as they near the end of the academic year.
We would like to introduce you to Joyce Awate. Joyce was a leader and an excellent student at St. John the Evangelist School in Pukuka. When the war started, she and her siblings were sent to the refugee camp on their own, with no adult to accompany them. Can you imagine what this would be like? Completely alone in a refugee camp in a foreign country. This is the situation faced by thousands of South Sudanese children. And, it is very common in these situations for young girls to be lured into marriage as had happened to many of Joyce’s friends.
Knowing that Joyce had such great potential, our head administrator kept talking to Joyce and encouraging her to go back to school. She was very resistant at first, but eventually chose to return. When she did return, her interest in learning was renewed and, even though she started in the second semester, she has worked hard and has caught up with her peers. She is especially strong in math and is a natural leader who helps organize and lead group discussions.
Gifts of any size are greatly appreciated and fully tax deductible. Click on the Donate button below for a quick and easy online donation. You can also contact SOW at info@sowsouthsudan.org for more information on how to support Joyce and all her fellow students.