Pursuing permanent peace in South Sudan will reduce the number of street children, says Parish Priest of Our Lady of Holy Rosary in the catholic Diocese of Torit.
Fr Anthony Odomelam says the church orphanage keeps a total of 28 children who got from the streets, Radio Emmanuel reports.
He reveals that some of the orphans lost their parents although others still have theirs.
Fr Anthony says attaining peace will bring developments and prosperity to the country.
‘The only word I have for the government is for them to pursue peace and to ensure that peace is attained in South Sudan. Because if there is no peace there cannot be development, there cannot be progress and this problem will continue to multiply. This country is our country; we cannot leave our country to go in this aria. We all have our quota to contribute to ensure that this peace is attained. So let us try our best to see that we pursue peace, not just talking about peace let us mean what we say. If there is peace the number of the street children will reduce greatly. So the watch word is peace. Let there be peace, and everything will be settled in South Sudan’, he advises
The Parish Priest hopes these children will have a brighter tomorrow in spite of the fact that the orphanage encounters challenges in feeding and housing.
The peace agreement signed Khartoum, gives orphans much hope, says Paul Modo, Ground Manager for the Orphanage at Our Lady of the Holy Rosary..
‘Actually the current peace agreement is giving a lot of hope to the orphanage because they will have access to go to school. They will not be disturbed in their schools and also they will feel free to say anything to express themselves whenever they want to do that. So the peace agreement is really strengthening them and giving them hope in life. They have hope that they will be better people now that South Sudan is at peace and also with the hope that the church is giving them’, he admits.
Modo calls on government to implement the signed peace agreement wholeheartedly.
The two made these remarks to Radio Emmanuel at Our Lady of Holy Rosary on Thursday.