Last Saturday, we celebrated the arrival of our new students into the Loreto compound and also into the Loreto school families.

“When I first came to Loreto, I was amazed by the way people lived happily and peacefully. The secret behind that peace and happiness was having a family.” Nyanadong Akech, Imatong Family

It was a colourful and happy feast with speeches, dances, poems and, of course, food at the end. The head girl welcomed the new family members. She encouraged her “beloved granddaughters” to use every opportunity to learn, grow and become role models for the next generation of students.

One of the new students took this golden opportunity to give her first speech. She thanked all teachers, sisters and donors “for this beautiful and safe environment” and closed by saying, “I express my gratitude to my beautiful grandmothers, loving aunties and mostly our sweet mothers for the care, love and warm welcome they have shown us since we joined.”

Another student composed a song.

Oh, my sweet family.
There is nothing better than family.
There is no place as dear as Loreto family.
There I share a lot of fun with sisters and aunties,
bound together by school families.

Oh, my sweet family.
There’s nothing as loving as a family.
All members related to one another.
Mother and aunties, nieces and sisters
and grandmothers, above all, with love and care.

The students’ love for their school families was obvious in every speech, song, and round of applause.

Loreto Rumbek has ten school families with around 35-40 members. The names of the families are chosen from mountains, towns or areas within South Sudan and our neighbouring countries, Sudan, Kenya, Uganda or Congo.

Ms. Otieno was one of our first teachers. She taught sciences, but not only that. She was also a dormitory matron, nurse, and counsellor. She composed the school anthem and, after the first conflicts and misunderstandings among the girls occurred, she came up with the idea of the school families. Teresa Amakou, head of the Nuba family, explained: “By then, there were tribal clashes in the country, and the girls were not at peace with their fellows, but when this idea was introduced, they became united and learned how to socialise regardless of the places they come from or language they speak.”

“Having school families helps us to avoid divisions or tribalism and they unite people from different backgrounds.“ Nyayiik Malou, Liria Family

Upon entering the Loreto compound, every girl from Transition and Senior One Class gets a mother from Senior Two. At this moment, the mothers of the Senior Two girls who are now in Senior Three become grandmothers and their mothers in Senior Four are great-grandmothers. Family members who are classmates are sisters, and their mothers become aunties to the new students. “We are headed by a family leader. Each year, we select one member whom we all respect. Being a family head is not hereditary,” added Kana Nyanyit, head of Lopit family.

When asked about their school families, most of the students become enthusiastic: “We cherish and adore each other like blood relatives. The family has created a bond of love among us. We protect and support each other despite our backgrounds,” said Nyijur Manyiei from Kilimanjaro family. She added, “The culture of motherhood and grandmotherhood has taught us how to be responsible and create awareness in our future parenting role. Also, respect has grown among us, which is one of the African moral values, together with family.”

Monica Akuac, the head of Linda family confirms: “Linda family is one of the best, wonderful, loving, caring and happiest families I have ever found. It’s a family where everybody is treated with love and care, where we respect and advise each other like blood sisters. This creates strong bonds among the members and makes us feel at home and like a real family. It unites us despite our background and builds peace and respect.”

The school families usually meet on Sunday. They sit together, shelling groundnuts in order to make peanut butter, a school favourite. “At the times during our meetings, we normally remind each other of our family history and talk about our family ancestors. This makes our new students aware of the fun their school ancestors had while they were students in Loreto,” says Margret Nyanbeny, head of Chukudum family, with a laugh.

Angelina Akoi, from Meru family, adds somewhat more seriously. “In case one of the family members has done something wrong, we advise one another during our meetings to do what is right. We also help each other when one is losing hope in studies or lacks support from the parents or is faced with forced marriages and other obstacles.”

“Like in every family, the elderly people, like the grandmothers, act as role models to the young ones. It is the role of the family to solve issues that might arise, “explained Sarah Piath from Boma family.

“Some girls never stayed away from their parents, so it’s hard for them to enter boarding school, but through the school families, it helps them feel loved and cared for in the same way their parents do. This system helps us concentrate on our studies and creates strong bonds, as in a real family. You will remember it for your whole life. We are one big Loreto family, forever,” concluded Susan Ayen, head of Rwenzori family.