Loreto Schools Fight Malaria, Expand Student Opportunities
Loreto Schools remains a driving force in girls’ education and the promotion of quality education in South Sudan for both girls and boys, serving as an example to overturn the nation’s struggling literacy and attendance rates.
Students from Loreto consistently produce some of the highest test scores on state exams, and each year more female students complete their secondary education and go on to attend universities.
New Worlds of Opportunity
Sister Orla Treacy who directs Loreto Schools and serves as Principal, works to continually provide opportunities for students to expand their academic, social, and spiritual education.
In August, two Loreto students had the opportunity to travel to Portugal to attend World Youth Day – a global event that happens every three years, bringing together over a million and a half students from Catholic schools worldwide over six days. The students also receive a visit from the Pope. The girls recounted it as a truly wonderful experience.
Earlier this year, students of Loreto represented the only school in South Sudan that had the opportunity to participate in World Robotic Olympiad Training. This event provides a five-day introductory course in the basics of coding and computer programming. Many students were interested to learn more and requested the opportunity to pursue additional training in this relevant vocation at the university level.
No Letup in Malaria Season Despite Lack of Rain
The rainy season arrived in Rumbek, but the annual rains didn’t arrive with it. Just like other areas in South Sudan, the region has been struggling from high temperatures and drought, making it difficult to grow their usual crops in the agricultural program on campus.
The rains typically bring an increased mosquito presence and subsequent seasonal malaria outbreak. Each year the Mary Ward Health Clinic on campus gears up for the anticipated onset of malaria by stocking anti-malarial medicines.
Despite the lack of rain, the mosquito population returned in full force, and the clinic has been busy treating students, staff, and people who come from the community for help. The clinic serves as an outreach by the school, and numerous graduates have come back after completing university studies to work at the clinic.
Defeating Malnutrition
In August, the health clinic officially concluded their Nutritional Support Program, which helped nurse 70 malnourished children back to health. In May, 70 affected children from the local community were enrolled in the program, which was designed to improve the children’s health through enhanced nutritional support, medication, and hygiene over a three month period.
After completing the program, all 70 children were deemed in good health and released. Malnutrition is a serious threat to children in South Sudan, where an estimated 1.4 million children under age 5 are considered to be malnourished.
Your support of Loreto Schools helps make these achievements possible. Thank you for partnering with us to transform children’s lives and futures in South Sudan.
