As Summer approaches most school students are looking forward to holidays but not so at St Raphael’s School, an initiative of the Diocese of Egypt for Sudanese refugees, in downtown Cairo. There, the closing of the school for several weeks would simply place their students in danger on the streets, and so they plan to stay open and continue with their groundbreaking work.
As previously reported, St Raphael’s offers education according to the Sudanese curriculum for around 300 children. This week sixth graders are sitting exams at the Sudanese Embassy as they show their determination to overcome the disadvantages of having to flee a war-torn country to come to a place where many treat them with suspicion or hostility, and where the church is one of the few places where they can celebrate their human dignity. The school is keen to share its success stories. The current edition of their newsletter carries the story of Viola.
“Viola, a 10-year-old Sudanese Christian girl, was enrolled in the fourth grade at our school after arriving from Sudan last year in an undocumented manner, accompanied by some relatives, fleeing the horrors of war and leaving behind her parents. One of her relatives who enrolled her in school took her in. Viola lacks any official identification documents, and her guardian is still struggling to register her with the Refugee Commission. Prior to her arrival in Egypt, Viola had stopped attending school for about a year. On her first days at our school, Viola was consistently quiet and reserved, rarely speaking and displaying wavering self-confidence. She often felt fearful and struggled with concentration. Additionally, she faced challenges in basic Arabic and English language skills as well as fundamental mathematics. However, thanks to the academic and psychosocial support services we provide, Viola has undergone a remarkable transformation. She has shown significant improvement in all aspects of her academic and social life, becoming an outstanding student.”
The greatest challenge for the school at present is lack of space for an expanding population. The Diocese has purchased a property which will be far more suitable than the present rented premises. The new building’s open spaces will allow for gym class, school assemblies, and for the establishment of a Sudanese church on the weekends—none of which is possible now.
As these pictures show, it needs a lot of work if it is to be ready for a new term in the Autumn, and the partnership office of the Diocese is anxious to find new partners as it tries to raise the necessary $50,000.
In addition to money, prayers are requested. There is local friction about the prospect of a refugee school in the area and this needs to be overcome. What is certain is that there is no shortage of hopeful and purposeful courageous commitment from the Diocese and the School.
Donate to St Raphael's via this link
The headmaster asks:
Let us join together in prayer and action to make a meaningful difference in the lives of those in need, reflecting the love and compassion of Christ in our midst.
Posted 6th June 2024
