The Bangladeshi Peacekeeping contingent of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) on Friday donated scholastic materials to support students of Loyola Secondary School in Wau town, Western Bahr el Ghazal.
The items included textbooks, pens, bags, balls, and facemasks among others.
Speaking during the handover of the materials, the Bangladesh battalion’s Civil Engineering Officer, Lt. Col. Mohamud Mizan, said the battalion pledged to support the education sector in the Country.
“Today’s (Friday) program is that we are supporting games, sports, and education at Loyola secondary school. They requested through our field office for support with some school items because they don’t have such items and also asked for leveling of a playground,” Col. Mizan said. “We requested the Chinese engineering company to upgrade the ground but for our capacity, we are giving them these school items for this duration and standing beside them.”
He said since their arrival in Wau earlier this year, the contingent has so far supported 5,000 students in ten schools with stationery and textbooks printed in Dakar, Bangladesh.
Some of the students who spoke to Radio Tamazuj said they were happy with the support.
Nowoela Hassan Juma, a senior two student said, “I am happy for the gifts that they have given us and I appreciated them. I have liked playing football so much since I started my primary school.”
Another student, Lusia Asem, urged her colleagues to enjoy the gifts and continue with their studies.
For his part, the school’s principal, Rev. Father John Batista, said he was happy because the donation came at the right time.
“We are so pleased with the visitors who came from UNMISS, especially under Battalion 4 of the Bangladesh peacekeeping mission here in Wau. As you have seen, the kids were so pleased to see other faces in the compound and also the gifts they offered to us which are so symbolic,” Rev. Batista said.