A primary school in Khartoum, the capital and second largest city of Sudan, is operated by Salesian sisters from the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians and provides education and social development services to 400 children. Nearly 80 percent of the students in the school are victims of the war in South Sudan. Many are deeply wounded, scared, sick and above all very hungry. The Salesian sisters provide the students shelter, nutritious meals and education.

“Every child has a uniform and a hot meal every day, and the sick children are taken to the doctor,” said Sr. Teresa Roszkowska of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians. “Visits are made to families living in very difficult conditions, in particular to young mothers. Some very poor families live close to our community, and we help them daily with supplies and food to eat.”

The school provides students a sense of normalcy and structure. Before classes begin the children have 15 minutes of gymnastics set to music. The exercises help the children to relax and calm down before classes. On Fridays and Sundays more than 300 children attend the youth center attached to the school, where children play games, watch a movie or just enjoy themselves with their peers. Some bathe and others wash their clothes, because where they live lacks water. Youth are also provided biscuits, sweets, soap or whatever other supplies have been donated.