Church and UNICEF helping refugee children from South Sudan
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Loading... - Tania Gbeho
- 30 Sep 2022
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When Ayibu was 6 years old, he and his parents were forced to flee their home in South Sudan with nothing but the clothes on their backs.
Now 12, Ayibu recalls what it was like. “I remember the rebels entering people’s houses and killing them without mercy,” he said.
His family found refuge in Biringi, Democratic Republic of Congo — becoming part of more than 7,000 refugees in Biringi since 2016. Ayibu entered the school system needing to learn a different language and traumatized by what had happened.
The United Nations Children’s Fund, known as UNICEF, with funding and support from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, has been building early childhood development classrooms and training teachers in several countries on how to help refugee children like Ayibu.
UNICEF’s Learning for Life program emphasizes psychosocial care, conflict management and facilitating the reintegration of traumatized children into schools.
“When we arrived in Biringi, I was admitted to the second year of primary school,” Ayibu said. “Thanks to the teachers and classmates, I integrated easily.”
Forgotten crisis
UNICEF is a United Nations agency focused on supporting the well-being of children and promoting the rights of children globally, and UNICEF USA promotes that mission.
Rachel Steinberg, the managing director for global cause partnerships at UNICEF USA, works with donors, supporters and partners like the Church of Jesus Christ and other faith-based organizations. Read More...
