Apr 29, 2020
South Sudanese ladies carrying water containers
The risk of the pandemic virus in a developing country like South Sudan is very high as they have very poor medical facilities and are steeped in traditions that involve the handshake. It represents peace and respect among their communities and proves to be difficult to avoid , all be it necessary to contain the spread of the virus.
Creating awareness to the community about Coronavirus becomes an urgent need as most of the people are illiterate and they are not informed of what is happening around the world, therefore proper orientation and health education for preventive measures are required.
On 31st March, 2020, nine former interns returned to Loreto. Among the group are five trainee nurses, two medical students and two development students. All have returned from their various learning institutes to help prepare for the Coronavirus in the Mary Ward Primary Health Care Center (LPHCC).
Each week the group divides and enters into the community trying to educate them on the Coronavirus disease, how it can be transmitted and how to try to prevent it happening in the area. These graduates are finding this extremely difficult as many villages are constructed in a way that social distancing is not possible. Many of the families have to share beds, bedding materials and all household utensils.
They are also finding it difficult to guide the males section of the community but they are hoping to change this as it is vital that the community works as a whole to protect themselves against this virus.
“Over the last 3 weeks, the medical team has been able to outreach to different 49 water points, boreholes training total number of 3,010 people, mostly women.
The medical team is motivated by the willingness of the community members to take up the preventive measures in controlling the spread of the virus and they look forward to targeting a bigger group in the next few weeks.”
Information via www.loretorumbek.ie
HELP US TO TRANSFORM LIVES IN SOUTH SUDAN
Mar 6, 2020
On February 19th, the American Ambassador to South Sudan, Mr. Thomas Hushek visited the Loreto school in Rombeck that is run by the Loreto sisters and commended them for their efforts in keeping the young Sudanese girls in school. The school has been giving support to the young girls by providing a secure learning environment without the threat of child marriage. The drop out rate for girls and young women in school is very high in Sudan and the director Sr Orla Tracey has done magnificent work in her efforts to provide education and support for the people of South Sudan.
The US department of state awarded Sr. Orla Tracey, Loreto Rumbeck’s director an international women of courage award for her work in in March last year, an annual honor that recognizes women who have shown exceptional courage and leadership in advocating for peace, justice, human rights, gender equality and women’s empowerment.
During his visit the American ambassador was shown all the various projects run by the Loreto Sisters including the recently launched clinic and malnutrition programme established for mothers and babies, a primary school school and a girls’ secondary school with boarding facilities in the country’s Catholic Diocese of Rumbek.
In Mr Hushek speech, he encouraged the girls to be courageous in the face of discrimination against women in their country and revealed that Loreto has a nice model for young girls in South Sudan because the girls are taught to be united from various communities and that their main benefit from the school as the freedom to access education. “A year ago, Sr. Orla was nominated for an award and won on behalf of the entire school. I have been wanting to come up here ever since because of the work that is going on here especially focusing on girls’ education,” the U.S. national said, “Going forward, this is the key to development and peace for the country.”
An intern from the The Mary Ward Primary Health Care Clinic that was lauched in February said “In South Sudan, healthcare providers continue to deal with the challenge of health care versus traditional doctors. Having been enlightened through my internship at this clinic, I feel there is a need for more people in South Sudan to access health education”.
Other students spoke about the challenge of girl child education and how school has given them the chance to grow and to become people who can help their respective families ,more spoke about the issue of inter clan conflicts and how boarding in Loreto has allowed them build bridges between fellow students of different tribes in the classroom regardless of ethnic differences.
Addressing the audience that included the U.S. diplomat, teachers and students, Sr. Orla acknowledged the struggles that South Sudanese girls who choose to go to school face and the odds they have overcome saying, “We have great hopes and I know the girls are very ambitious for the country of South Sudan.”
“It is not easy for the girls in this country to be in school , but they are strong, courageous, ambitious and peaceful women who are looking for a better South Sudan,” she added.
The Missionaries of the Sacred Heart are always proud to support the wonderful work done by the Loreto Sisters for the young women of South Sudan.
For more photographs and further information about Loreto Rumbek, visit their website or visit their Facebook page.
You can also find out more about how MSC Missions work with Loreto Rumbek – and how you can help to make a difference to the young women of South Sudan.
PLEASE HELP US TO TRANSFORM LIVES IN SOUTH SUDAN
Jul 11, 2019
As our friends at Loreto Schools Rumbek draw the old school year to a close and look ahead to the new, we are delighted to hear that the schools are continuing to grow at a great rate, offering renewed hope and new opportunities to young women in South Sudan.
There are now over 1,000 children attending the primary school, with only 14 students dropping out in the last year. “The secondary school also continues to be blessed and we are looking at an enrolment close to 350 this year,” writes Benjamin Sprunger, the Loreto Programs Manager. “We also delivered well over half a million meals, and provided around 1,800 clinical consultations – mostly to women and children – during the year”, he continues.
Earlier this year, the Loreto secondary school was “flooded with young hopefuls” as hundreds of young women arrived to complete the first stage of the secondary school intake process. “During 2019’s intake, we had 424 applicants, registering a 22% increase from last year,” explains the official Loreto website. “This is the largest group since the school started and a great milestone for the Loreto Rumbek mission.”
Gaining a place at Loreto is a precious prize indeed for young women in the local region and beyond. The secondary school programme is a support system that encompasses far more than a simple education, with the provision of “three daily meals, health care, uniforms, study and learning materials, 24/7 power and water, accommodation, protection and advocacy, psychosocial support and social development activities, and spiritual development”. The Loreto website tell the story of one applicant, Mary Ayuen from Cuiebet, located 45km away. “Mary explains, ‘I came two days ago and stayed with my friend in Rumbek because I didn’t want to miss the interview. I want to be a doctor.’ Mary is hopeful that her dreams to study at Loreto and to secure a bright future will come true.”
Of course, the Loreto community is far more than just a school – for many of these young women, it is family. All you need to do is look at these pictures of Sr Orla, the school’s principal, returning from her travels this summer, and it is very clear that pride, unity, and love are the mainstays of both teachers and students and the Loreto schools.
We at the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart are proud to support the Loreto team in the tremendous work that they do, both in the Loreto schools and their Health Care Unit. We are very pleased to hear that the schools are going from strength to strength, and we wish both staff and students a peaceful summer break ahead of the next busy academic year!
The Missionaries of the Sacred Heart are proud to support the wonderful work done by the Loreto Sisters for the young women of South Sudan.
For more photographs and further information about Loreto Rumbek, visit their website or visit their Facebook page.
You can also find out more about how MSC Missions work with Loreto Rumbek – and how you can help to make a difference to the young women of South Sudan.
PLEASE HELP US TO TRANSFORM LIVES IN SOUTH SUDAN
Jun 27, 2019
Irish-born Sr Orla Treacy, principal of Loreto Secondary School in Rumbek, has received an award from home territory in recognition of her work with educating and empowering young women in South Sudan. Sr Orla, originally from Co. Wicklow, was awarded the Societal Impact prize as part of the prestigious DCU Alumni Awards.
The DCU Alumni Awards celebrate the wonderful achievements of Dublin City University alumni all over the world. “The DCU Alumni Awards honour alumni who, through their exceptional ability and leadership, have achieved excellence in their chosen fields of endeavour,” states the official website. “Their accomplishments across so many aspects of society are a source of great pride to DCU and an inspiration to present and future generations of DCU students.”
Speaking to The Irish Catholic about the award, Sr Orla remarked, ““It’s great to see a university like that recognising the work that we’re doing in South Sudan.”
Earlier this year, Sr Orla received the International Woman of Courage Award, having been nominated by the U.S. Embassy to the Holy See. Working to protect and encourage young women in one of the world’s most volatile countries, Sr Orla is a champion for education and empowerment in South Sudan.
“As principal of Loreto Secondary School in Rumbek in Lake States, considered the premier girls’ school in the impoverished country, Sr Treacy has spent well over a decade empowering thousands of pupils through education, despite ongoing civil conflict and discrimination against young women, such as forced marriage,” writes Colm Fitzpatrick of The Irish Catholic.
Acknowledging the recognition of her work, Sr Orla says that it’s “nice to feel part of something bigger”, while the Pope’s recent call for peace to South Sudan’s leaders has given the Loreto family in Rumbek “a great sense of hope”.
We are proud to support the marvellous work done by Sr Orla and the Loreto Rumbek team, and we send our very best wishes on this wonderful acknowledgement of their ongoing work for the young women of South Sudan.
Read The Irish Catholic’s full report on Sr Orla’s award.
The Missionaries of the Sacred Heart are proud to support the wonderful work done by the Loreto Sisters for the young women of South Sudan.
For more photographs and further information about Loreto Rumbek, visit their website or visit their Facebook page.
You can also find out more about how MSC Missions work with Loreto Rumbek – and how you can help to make a difference to the young women of South Sudan.
PLEASE HELP US TO SAVE LIVES IN SOUTH SUDAN
Mar 11, 2019
Sincere congratulations are in order as Sr Orla Treacy IBVM has received the International Woman of Courage Award 2019, having been nominated by the U.S. Embassy to the Holy See.
The awards ceremony took place in Washington D.C. on March 7th, with ten women in total being honoured. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo hosted the ceremony, while First Lady Melania Trump addressed those in attendance.
According to the official website, the International Woman of Courage Award “recognizes women around the globe who have demonstrated exceptional courage and leadership in advocating for peace, justice, human rights, gender equality, and women’s empowerment, often at great personal risk and sacrifice”. Sr Orla’s work in education and healthcare in war-torn South Sudan has made her a truly worthy nominee.
The official website gives a short biography highlighting Sr Orla’s work:
“Born in Ireland in 1973, Sister Orla Treacy was, at a young age, inspired by the lives of service and compassion of her teachers who were religious sisters. After studying to become a teacher of religion, she joined the congregation of the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary (IBVM), known as the Loreto Sisters. In 2006, while teaching and offering pastoral care in Ireland, Sister Orla joined other Loreto Sisters who were starting a new mission in Rumbek, South Sudan–an area besieged by civil war and violent inter-clan conflict. Touched by the plight of girls who were being forced into early marriage and denied the right to an education, she took action. Sister Orla and the Loreto Sisters started a girls-only boarding school with 35 students. Today, Sister Orla serves as the head administrator of the Loreto Rumbek Mission in Maker Kuei, overseeing a boarding secondary school for girls, a co-educational primary school, and a women and child-centric primary healthcare facility. Sister Orla is a part of a diverse multinational team of religious sisters, educators, nurses, and other support staff, who all share a vision for improving the lives of the most vulnerable in the community. Despite the devastating consequences of war in Rumbek, and the many barriers to women and girls in the community, Sister Orla remains filled with hope, and the Loreto Schools stand as a beacon of light for future South Sudanese generations. She continues to work in faith, striving for a world in which girls are not forced into marriage, are allowed to complete their education, and can pursue their dreams.”
“This award belongs to the young women of South Sudan with whom I have the privilege of working.”
In November 2017, Sr Orla was awarded the Hugh O’Flaherty International Humanitarian Award, and this year’s nomination for the International Woman of Courage Award is yet further recognition of her tireless work with vulnerable families in Maker Kuei.
The Loreto Rumbek website recounts Sr Orla’s thoughts on receiving the International Women of Courage award: “This award belongs to the young women of South Sudan with whom I have the privilege of working. Our students embody all that is courageous – they are young women of vision, strength and hope. Young women who dream of a better country for themselves and their families, who are prepared to challenge old structures and work towards making South Sudan great. I am grateful to all who have made this possible.
Our work in South Sudan is not possible without the ongoing support of our partners, our wider Loreto family, past pupils, students, staff and our local community in Rumbek. Our Church leaders, community leaders and local government leaders have all played a significant role in supporting our mission.
Today, I was very aware of our girls as I was receiving the award. I pray that I am paving the way for them. My hope and dream is to see one of them with this award in the future.”
Working together for a brighter future
Since the summer of 2017, the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart have been working together with Sr Orla and the Loreto community of Rumbek, South Sudan, to provide financial support for the tremendous work being done in education and health care there.
On a visit to the MSC Missions Office in Cork, Sr Orla extended her gratitude to the MSC community for their support. “It is unique for one congregation to financially support another one, so this contribution to our work in Rumbek is extremely generous,” she said. “Sincere thanks for your generosity and for your willingness to collaborate in helping us with this challenging yet worthwhile mission.”
We are proud to support Sr Orla and the wonderful work of the Loreto Rumbek community, and we are sending our very best wishes on this great achievement!
Read RTE’s report on Sr Orla’s award.
The Missionaries of the Sacred Heart are proud to support the wonderful work done by the Loreto Sisters for the young women of South Sudan.
For more photographs and further information about Loreto Rumbek, visit their website or visit their Facebook page.
You can also find out more about how MSC Missions work with Loreto Rumbek – and how you can help to make a difference to the young women of South Sudan.
PLEASE HELP US TO SAVE LIVES IN SOUTH SUDAN
