Making a Difference at the Blessed Damian School in Masindi, Uganda

A little over a year ago we asked you to support an important project on of ours in the town of Masindi, in Northern Uganda. One of our Missionaries of Africa, Fr. Jean La Vacher, operates a school for orphans displaced by the civil war in neighboring Sudan.

Fr. Jean wrote, “With the help of Bishop Paride of southern Sudan we have set up a school for some of the Sudanese orphans. The school was established for the neediest children . . . those who cannot return home even after the civil war ends.”

“You see,” he continued, “these children were forced to become ‘child soldiers’ by the local fighting groups. They were forced to do unspeakable things -- they were brainwashed, forced to kill friends and relatives. Now, even though they have escaped from their captors, they cannot go home. Too many people will never forgive them for the atrocities. They are children without a home.”

“There are more than 500 boys and girls here at the Blessed Damian School. They have come from various refugee camps. While they are here, we are trying to teach them how to read and write as well as help them develop skills such as gardening . . . things that will help them when they leave to live on their own. We obviously also have to feed them as well as provide shoes and clothing, clean water, medicine and teach them personal hygiene. Nearly all of these boys and girls have been abused and beaten. Now it is up to us to help them heal. . . but we need help to make this happen.”

With your help we did make this happen! As you will see here, here, and here, Sr. Candia M. Grace, the School Administrator, reports that the money we were able to send purchased food, office stationary, text books, lab equipment, and medical expenses!

Thank you for your generosity to these children. Your support has made an enormous difference in their lives.