There are approximately 1,000 children in the School of Peace. These kids study every day and they are proud of it. Specifically, the Community of Sant'Egidio and the Diocese of Arua set up this school in the Nyumanzi refugee camp. This centre is situated in the Adjumani region (northern Uganda).
Some of these juveniles were born in the camp. However, many others saw with their own eyes the violence that has been devastating South Sudan. They had witnessed this brutality until they fled to Uganda. This latter country has been hosting more than 700,000 South Sudanese refugees. 170,000 of them are currently located in the Adjumani region (UNHCR data).
Life in Nyumanzi camp is difficult. In particular, resources and essential goods are deficient while the number of refugees is steadily increasing. In this context, the School of Peace represents a concrete hope for these young people’s future because it guarantees education thanks to programs and exams that are recognized by the Ugandan government.
During a visit to the Nyumanzi camp, Bishop Vincenzo Paglia asserts that “the Kingdom of Heaven is like this school because Jesus always wants peace and not war. Seeking the Kingdom of Heaven means seeking the School of Peace every day. This implies the action of going to school and of finding friends who love us”. The children replied to the bishop's words by preparing dances, songs, and poems. This occurred thanks to the help of the kids’ teachers. Therefore, the main theme of this answer was peace.
During this occasion, Vincenzo Paglia also met with the Adjumani Community of Sant'Egidio, which supports the Nyumanzi school by making meals for the students and delegations of Sant'Egidio from other cities that are located in northern Uganda. The bishop greeted and thanked them by saying: "This house is beautiful, large, wide, and welcoming. Nonetheless, the greatest beauty is not linked to the bricks but to your hearts and hands that are united to serve the poorest!"
During Bishop Vincenzo Paglia’s visit to the young refugees in Uganda, he argues that “the kingdom of heaven is like this school because Jesus always wants peace and not war”.
