This is the story of Teresa, sent to us by the Comboni Sisters in Nzara, South Sudan. IRT are funding many of their facilities, and we are delighted to hear that during a time of tragedy, happy moments occur as well:

A mother reunited with her child in Nzara. The outcome of Teresa's reunion with her children is one that so many hope for when they arrive in the camp."Amidst a lot of suffering, there are also events which bring joy and hope. Yesterday, Teresa, a Congolese refugee who arrived in Nzara a few days ago, came to us and had the great joy of embracing her seven children whom she had thought to be dead.

She told us her family was living peacefully in a village called Yakuruku in DR Congo. She and her husband John Mbapa had seven children: Emmanuel 19 yrs., Justina 18, Joseph 17, Moses 14, Judita 12, Mary 10 and Vicky 4.

Due to the attacks of the Lord’s Resistance Army [LRA] they would hide in the safety of the forest each night. Vicky, the youngest, used to cry a lot during the night, so that evening, as there were rumours that the rebels were near, the parents told the children to go deeper into the forest, while they remained near home, hidden in the grass. The safety of the younger children was entrusted to Emmanuel and Justina.

Mbapa took the first turn in watching while Teresa slept, then during the turn of Teresa, after midnight, she heard the noise of gumboots. She woke up her husband, but they had no chance to escape. Using big torches, the rebels found them easily. Mbapa tried to escape, so he was tied up. They were taken back in their compound which was full of rebels who had already collected their few belongings: food, saucepans and blankets. In the meantime they also collected the neighbours: three men and four women. The children in the forest heard the cries coming from the village and understood they had to stay away. Luckily enough that night Vicky was still sleeping when they heard the cries of their parents. Emmanuel took her and they began running and running.

The rebels started moving with their captives and their belongings. They walked for three days, resting only a few hours during the night. Wherever they went they kept killing and abducting. They stopped at last and told the women to look for firewood and start cooking. During the night some rebels collected the four abducted men who were already tied together and took them into the bush and killed them. This is what happened to almost all men. The women could hear their cries. Teresa says she noticed that rebels have different tasks: one group surrounds the prisoners during the night, while others remain hidden just outside the camp to control anyone who eventually tries to run away. If you are caught you are killed immediately.

The following night Teresa was sent again for firewood. She pretended to kneel down to tie the bundles together and managed crawled away until she reached a spot covered by tall grass. She then ran falling down many times as it was so dark. This is probably why she lost, after some time, the child she was expecting. Teresa had great courage as we know that if you are caught after trying to run, you are severely punished, tortured and killed. Sometimes LRA rebels take revenge on other prisoners. Teresa spent days wandering in the forest until she reached a road where she met some SPLA [Sudan People's Liberation Army] women soldiers who informed her they were going to Yambio [town near Nzara, South Sudan]. She joined them.

On the way she was told that many Congolese refugees were in Makpundo Camp, 40 miles from Yambio, and another group was in Nzara. Before reaching Yambio they took a rest in Makaragundo where the women soldiers shared food with her. Here she met an old neighbour and some relatives. However, no one could give her information about her children; she lost all hope of ever seeing them again. She established herself with other refugees in an area near Rimenze; after a while she held a funeral for her children. It was only after seven months that she heard from other Congolese coming from Makpundo Camp that UNHCR was trying to trace the family of seven children staying in Nzara with the Comboni Sisters. She then decided to come to Nzara, it took her two days by bicycle. You can imagine the joy, the tears they all shed when mother and children met.

Teresa finished her story by adding that girls and women given as wives to LRA are not sent to fight, but, like all the abducted, suffer greatly due to lack of food and abuse. Especially children are dying.
The elder son, Emmanuel, then told us what happened the night LRA came to their village.

After hearing the cries of their parents, Emmanuel collected Vicky who was still sound asleep and they all ran deeper into the bush. During the next day Emmanuel and Justina went back home. They found it deserted and everything destroyed and burned, no sign of their parents, no one present in the area. They went back to the bush where they waited in vain for three days for their parents. Their situation was worsening: no food, no security. They started their journey towards South Sudan until, after five days, they reached Nzara.

They were exhausted and hungry. Emmanuel had swollen legs as he had to carry Vicky all the way. They stopped under a tree near Nzara market, a lady saw them and hearing their story, she had pity and took them to her home. Some days later people said that the Comboni Sisters were helping refugees so they went to them.

Thanks to the people who are helping and supporting us, we have been able to meet the emergency needs of refugees who are displaced due to the terrible activities of Joseph Kony and his Lord Resistance Army."

One of the sisters with a refugee child. This is the kind of warmth and love Nyeko found when he arrived in Nzara.The Combini Sisters in Nzara, South Sudan, work with refugees from surrounding countries, especially Democratic Republic of Congo and Central African Republic. Though there are several conflicts in the area, the refugees running away from the Lords Resistance Army (LRA) are currently the most prominent.

The Sisters give us regular updates. We'd like to share one of their latest stories with you, it is a story about a little boy named Nyeko. The Sisters write:

"At the beginning of December [2009] the soldiers [from the Ugandan army, stationed in Sudan to hunt down the LRA] asked us if we had clothes for a child of about one year old collected in Congo after fighting with the Lord Resistance Army.

This request was not new to us. In fact, when someone abducted by the LRA is able to escape and asks for protection of the Sudanese or Ugandan soldiers, they are taken to the army’s Head Quarters in Nzara for protection, identification and to be questioned. The soldiers ask for our cooperation with clothes and other items; help that we willingly give.

The unusual thing this time was that the child was on his own. We were surprised and happy when they took him to our house so that we could see him. The child was watching us at first. He then allowed us peacefully to hold him in turn in our arms. At last he decided to give us a gift, let us say a blessing, as we found ourselves all wet! The emotion to meet six women at the same time was too great.

We asked how and where they got this child, but no one knew his exact story. We were told that during the fighting between soldiers and LRA, some LRA captives were trying to escape. Some succeeded, while some were killed.

The child was found among dead people, after a battle. He was alone.  It seems that the parents were Ugandans abducted by the LRA: the father then died and the mother was given as a wife to a rebel. The child was probably cared for by other captives. He was given an Acholi name: “Nyeko”.

Nyeko is now in Uganda and the proper authorities are trying to find his relatives. If not, some Ugandan soldiers expressed the desire to adopt him.

Nyeko, your first year of life was a difficult one. You suffered cold and hunger in the forest, you saw with your innocent eyes people killed, cut into pieces. You grew among the noise of guns, cries, shouting. You were looked after by different unknown people. You gave us the precious gift of your smile, you let us happily cuddle and kiss you. You were never satisfied when being fed. You are giving us the strength and the courage to keep on striving for peace. You will be always in our hearts."

IRT has a long established relationship with the Comboni Samaritans in Gulu, northern Uganda. As IRT went to visit Gulu over the summer, we were introduced to a project supported by the Samaritans called the Wawoto Kacel Cooperative Society Ltd. The term 'wawoto kacel' means 'walking together'. The cooperative was establised over 10 years ago by a group of HIV positive women together with the Comboni Samaritans. They produce a wonderful range of arts and crafts which they sell locally and on the international market.

The Cooperative currently has 150 working members and comprises six departments: Embroidery, Tailoring, Tie-dye, Weaving, Beads and Cards.

IRT took some of the products to the Fair Christmas Fayre this Saturday the 5th December at the Salvation Army on Oxford Street, London. The Wawoto Kacel merchandise was received with great enthusiasm. We will be adding many of the products to our on-line shop, so if you missed us at the Christmas Fair, you'll soon have the opportunity to order the products on-line! All the proceeds from the Fayre Christmas Fair as well as funds raised in the future with our on-line shop will be going directly to IRT's projects, including projects supported by the Comboni Samaritans.

Ann Donnelly and Joan Skelton at their jam and marmalade stall at Our Lady and St Edmund’s Church in Backworth, North Tyneside. Sales have benefited the International Refugee Trust by £4470. Photograph by Gerry Latimer from Northern CrossNorthern Cross, a catholic newspaper for the diocese of Hexham and Newcastle in North East England, reported on the fundraising efforts of two very special IRT supporters.  Ms Ann Donnelly and Ms Joan Skelton from Backworth, North Tyneside have been selling home made jam in their local parishes since 2003, raising an astounding amount of money each year to support various IRT projects.

Gerry Latimer from Northern Cross explains that the ladies were "moved by an appeal from IRT to equip a Mobile Clinic for work with refugees in Africa".  This is when they came up with the idea to make and sell jam and marmalade. The demand for their home made produce "took them by surprise". They soon sold 200 jars and decided to make their first donation to IRT. They have continued to do so ever since.

There are many chairties that need supporters such as Ann and Joan, and IRT is truly grateful to have been picked by these ladies. Ann explained that she chose to support IRT in particular because "it has a small and efficient staff and the money raised does not go on expensive overheads but is all spent on the projects".        

Throughout the years Ann and Joan's production has steadily risen.  They are now bringing the jam to other parishes as well and, Joan explains "we are very green, too. We have recycled between 4,000 and 5,000 jam jars.” The fruit is often donated and their large freezer is frequently replenished.

Ann and Joan have donated to IRT projects based in Africa, Jordan, Thailand. Joan and Ann told the Northern Cross that by now they have made 19 donations to IRT's projects; worth a staggering £4,470, and over "two metric tonnes of jam"!

We at IRT are deeply touched by this wonderful story. It shows that the people we are assisting in our projects are not forgotten. We would like to thank Ann and Joan for their amazing efforts, and a big thank you to everyone buying their jams and marmalades. We are looking forward to having a little taste in the future!!