“God seems to have a special fondness for orphans. I am very happy to see everybody supporting us,” said Grace Joseph who lost her parents in the devastating civil war that ravaged South Sudan in 2016.

Grace was speaking at a handover by Bangladeshi peacekeepers from the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) who are serving for peace in Wau.

The Blue Berets distributed toys, shirts, face masks, hand sanitize, and sports items to 66 orphaned children at the Don Bosco Children Care Centre here.

"Ever since my parents were killed almost five years ago due to the conflict in Wau, I have been living here at this Centre," continued the 16-year-old. "I remember how we first fled from our village but were ambushed by armed men. They killed my mother and father in front of my eyes.”

Grace’s harrowing story isn’t unique among these children. 

“We are immensely happy today,” she told the visiting peacekeepers. “It’s like a day out for us and we enjoyed ourselves so much. UN peacekeepers are some of the kindest people we have met in our lives,” she added.

“Today, I felt hopeful after a long time,” said Madut Achien Majok, another beneficiary who lives at the Center.

Father John Santey, Director of the Centre, also commended the Bangladeshi peacekeepers efforts in supporting local communities in Wau.

The handover was intended to mark the International Day of Families. “Many children across South Sudan have really suffered due to violence and bloodshed. We hope this small gesture from us assures these orphaned children that they have a surrogate family in UN peacekeepers,” said Lieutenant-Colonel Mohamad Al-Mamun, deputy commander of the Bangladeshi troops in Wau.

Additionally, peacekeepers provided medical check-ups for all the children residing at the centre.

The Don Bosco Childcare Centre was established in 2010 as a non-profit organization and is run by Catholic diocese of Wau.