10 October 2014 - Stressing that an educated workforce was vital for any successful nation, an UNMISS commander in Bor, Jonglei State, said today that his battalion would continue to support Dr. John Garang Memorial University.

Col. Himanshu Hatkar noted that the Indian battalion had donated several items to the university on 7 October. These included 20 balls for sporting activities and 30 general education books.

The Colonel said many books they had given the students were fiction and mainly for motivational purposes.

“We have … concern for education in our hearts for the youth and the children of South Sudan,” Mr. Hatkar said. “We have seen how much difference an educated workforce can make.”

He said it was sad to see the deteriorated state of Dr. John Garang Memorial University due to current crisis, adding that the institution required much more than he and his team had so far provided.

“We have done some engineering work, including repairing the university road, fixing culverts, clearing classrooms of dust, fixing windows and doors, as well as clearing the sports fields,” he said.

He preferred to call the recent package given to the university a “gift”, adding that the real donation for the university was yet to arrive. This would include good quality books covering subjects like mathematics, history and geography, English literature, science and history.

Col. Hatkar said that his next step would be to support the computer science laboratory. “We shall also continue to support the university’s sporting activities and … cultural events to transform them into better leaders of South Sudan.”