13 December 2013 - UNMISS South Korean peacekeepers in the Jonglei State capital Bor today started construction of two classroom blocks at Lualdit Primary School, which is currently lacking adequate space.

“We are delighted to see this significant support from the South Korean Peacekeepers,” said the school’s Principal William Riak. “We hope that our conditions will be changed at the end of this project.”

He added that the construction of the new classrooms would help reduce congestion and also boost the morale of the school community.

The construction project, which is expected to cost a total of $73,000, will be completed over a period of three months, said Captain Yum Jinwoo, a member of the South Korean engineering unit.

According to Captain Jinwoo, the Gwanglim Church of Korea donated $30,000 of the total amount. He noted that in addition to constructing the blocks, which will be able to accommodate 208 more students, the unit would also install desks, blackboards and UV energy-based light in the classrooms.

“I would like to thank you for your kind assistance today to our school and we hope that the problem of congestion inside our rooms would be solved when the new rooms are being ready for us,” said Riak Machola Riak, a representative of the students who expressed his profound gratitude to the South Koreans.

The South Korean peacekeepers also donated 150 notebooks, 360 pencils and 360 color pens to Lualdit Primary School, a public school currently attended by 506 students.

Col. Dongjun Ko, commander of the South Korean Engineering Unit, encouraged the students to study hard for a better future.

“We expect that one day the leaders of South Sudan will come from this school,” he said.