Back to school at the "School of Peace" in refugee camp of Nyumanzi

The new school year for South Sudan refugees in North Uganda

 General elections in Uganda (on 18 February) have delayed the beginning of the school year (usually on 1 February). "The School of Peace" the primary school for refugees from South Sudan promoted by the Community of Sant'Egidio together with the Diocese of Arua has opened again in these days.

The new school year began with some important advances. First, the new well that grants access to drinking water for  everybody. It is particularly precious in a very hot area and with little infrastructure such as Nyumanzi Settlement area.

The water is for all! When lessons are over water will be distributed to the families in the area.

There are also other innovations. We have some new teachers and each class has its reference teacher. P6 class has started (the penultimate year of the primary cycle out of seven). All lessons are to be held indoors. No one will have to study outside under a tree. This is possible thanks to the new tents donated by UNICEF and we hope, soon, to start building other masonry classrooms (in addition to the four already existing).

Many students have expressed all their happiness, they are proud to learn and to go back to class with their mates. And we are happy to start again with them.