Orphans in Torit can now drift into their dreams on new bunk beds donated to them on Thursday. The 40 beds were handed over to the Faith Ministry International Orphanage Centre by German Military Liaison Officer Sven Lindner, who works in Torit for the United Nations Mission in South Sudan.
The robust donation, which was done on behalf of a Germany organization called Lachen Helfen (which literally means Laughing and Helping), will help the orphans sleep peacefully, enabling them to concentrate on their studies.
The Faith Ministry Church in Torit established the orphanage centre in April of 2017 to support children who have lost their parents as a result of the persistent economic and political crisis in South Sudan. Currently the orphanage, despite limited resources, manages to house and care for 19 girls and 11 boys.
“I call you [UNMISS] our patrons because you are the first to have blessed us in such a proportion. One year ago, when we opened this centre, UNMISS supported us with 30 mattresses and have now followed up with this donation for the children to joyously sleep on,” Josephine Night Oromo, the director of the orphanage said.
The non-profit organization Lachen Helfen is an initiative by German soldiers and police officers to help children in conflict zones. The donation is a humanitarian gesture, first initiated by Captain Ronny Zaumseil, a former German Military Liaison Officer in Torit, and completed by his successor Lieutenant Sven Lindner.
“Whenever German policemen or military personnel go on an international mission abroad, the organization sends funding to support the children in need, when these personnel see children in need of some basic supplies, like beds, for example”, Mr. Lindner explained.
The children at the orphanage were also pleasantly surprised by the nimble handing over of sports gear by the Head of Field Office in Torit, Mary Cummins. The rationale is to encourage physical activity such as football and volleyball, to help improve the health of the orphans.
Ms. Cummins reiterated that the peacekeeping mission is committed to working with the people of South Sudan to build durable peace and urged its staff to increase their volunteer efforts to serve local communities.
“We would like to see our staff more involved volunteering their time to carry out various activities benefitting people around the town,” Ms. Cummins said.
UN staff have previously offered their robust support to other orphanages in Torit and beyond.