South Sudan has been at war for about 18 months now.
Conditions have been worsening and the International community is concerned about the ongoing brutality and the extent of war crimes against women and especially children.
Several people have been displaced by these circumstances and are scattered in surrounding localities.
A settlement in Northern Uganda has opened up her resources and has received the South Sudanese people well. They have freely shared of their own resources.
The need for a school was met by 'Alaak' a school teacher who also grew up in a Kenyan refugee camp.
In the words of Alaak, "A teacher is the one to open your eyes to see what you can become, I am sweating to open the way for them and I am sure there is a leader among them.”
Children from war torn South Sudan taking refuge in Uganda, have been given an opportunity to go to school in the Nyumanzi settlement of Northern Uganda.
31 year old Alaak, started the school with his own money after he arrived at the settlement about 11 months ago .
He was a school teacher himself before now and this made him see the need to educate the next generation in spite of the conflict.
He said in an interview that “War brings mental disturbances to children, If you give them education, they will grow up with a healthy brain.” Education he believes helps children deal with the horrors of war that they have witnessed or experienced.
His students and pupils are children aged 3 to 14 years, and the school is bursting at the seams due to the large number of children in the settlement who need to be educated with the meager resources available.
A local land owner, a teacher and also a former refugee offered his land to be used as a school when he heard of the school and the pressing need.
The children are not only taught to read and write, they are also taught the importance of prayer and living at peace with each other.
Alaak could not just sit by and watch, he had to do something.
He did what was in his capacity to make a change by taking his time to educate the leaders of tomorrow.
What can you do, to change things around you today?
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