Our Home—Rejaf SOUTH SUDAN

The mission of the Sisters of Charity is located about 7 km south of the capital Juba, in a village called Rejaf, where for years the Comboni sisters and fathers have served and helped many people. Rejaf is one of the villages most destroyed by the war, which has left numerous people in situations of extreme poverty. The most serious aspect is not only material poverty, but also intellectual poverty. The population is estimated at around 5,000 inhabitants . Many are single women and widows. A significant number of girls are at the risk of abuse and violence: Many of them are orphans, sometimes forced to take care of their younger siblings, and most of the time unable to go to school because of their family situation or extreme poverty. The Sisters of Charity of Saint Jeanne Antide Thouret were invited by His Grace Paolino Lukudo to serve the people of God in the Archdiocese of Juba. The first sisters arrived in Rejaf, Juba, on 3 July 2012: they committed themselves to building the shelter and inaugurated it on 27 November 2018, commemorating the birth of Saint Jeanne Antide and naming it “Our Home”, a name that already includes the objective of the activity,namely to make the young girls who come there feel at home and part of the family.

Our Home’s programmes include caring for orphaned and neglected girls who are vulnerable to life on the streets and domestic violence, especially those who have lost both parents. Our aim is to prevent girls from being abused, exploited and subjected to gender-based violence; to educate and train them and offer them the opportunity to live a dignified life in a safe environment, to protect them and promote their civil rights. What distinguishes this experience is certainly the creation of a supportive environment and a climate of togetherness and friendship among the girls through service and collaboration, including with staff who help them grow in respect and love for themselves and others. The young women welcomed into the Our Home community are accompanied in their daily lives, assisted in their studies, at least through secondary school, and receive psychological support if necessary.

Due to the worsening political and economic situation in the country this year, life has become very expensive. The prices of all goods, including food, are rises dramatically, which creates difficulties even in the daily management of the home, as It is impossible to ask for even a minimal contribution from the girls’ relatives, since their financial situation is extremely critical. The economic situation of the families is catastrophic, and upkeeping of these girls in Our Home means a financial burden and significant support for their upbringing. Ultimately, the Our Home project enables these young girls to pursue their dreams and achieve their ambitions. They are encouraged not only to continue their academic studies in order to be ready to take care of their future society, . The Foundation has supported this work from the outset, in which it deeply believes, and is particularly committed to supporting young people and their formal education and training. Only through education we can hope to achieve a peaceful world!