Sr Mary Lilly Driciru, MSMMC
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| Sister Maureen and team in Micro-credit meeting in Palorinya Camp Moyo District |
At Palorinya refugee camp along the western shores of the River Nile, the Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (Moyo) render health and economic services among the South Sudanese refugees who are in dire need. “Today there is a lot of desperation and suicidal tendencies among the refugees. Every week there is death or attempted suicide in the camps,” a volunteer revealed.
Sr Mary Lilly Driciru, Communication Coordinator from the Conference of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life in Uganda (CICLSALU/ARU) in a Q&A with some Sisters.
Q: Do you mind introducing yourself please?
I am Sr. Priscilla Ndaru, a member of the Institute of the Sacred Heart Sisters (SHS). Our foundation was originally from South Sudan. Our Sisters found a home in Moyo in the 1960s when they came to seek refuge in Uganda. I am a nurse by profession.
Q: What is your mission in Palorinya Refugees Camp?
I nurse patients at Polorinya Health Centre III Unit. Palorinya Health Unit is a government facility but aided by Medical Team, an America Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) and United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). They enhance our services to the mixed host and refugee communities. I help in procedures, treatment and often make referrals to Moyo Hospital where necessary.
Q; Can you share some of your experiences with us?
For two years, I used to commute daily for 30 kilometers to and from Moyo Mission Community. I developed backache in the process of moving daily on the rough roads with rocky terrain. I am better off now because I live three kilometers away and sometimes I walk since we also have transport challenge. We have a car but maintenance and fuel pose high expenses since our resources are meager.
Q: Do you have some challenges?
Yes, since I am serving with NGOs, I miss the opportunity of government sponsorship to upgrade. I am excluded from receiving some of the government benefits; 3 kilometres is fairly a long distance from where we stay and so we often forfeit meals. We are under- staffed and often times overworked. Many patients go unattended due to inadequate staff. Our community has no land for cultivation, we buy everything; clean water is far away, we have challenge of extreme seasons; dry seasons come with dust and associated illnesses, wet season comes with flood, mud swamp with some diseases. The work is overwhelming sometimes.
Q: What are some of the needs?
Many people are psychologically sick. There is high demand for counseling services. Generally, there is no avenue to receive personal counseling hence, stress is on the rise. For instance, we feel disturbed seeing old women who come with orphaned grandchildren. Our heath facility cannot cater for all needs. Sometimes we are puzzled when we hear about how the situation of the young ones when their grandparents die.
Q: Do you have any motivation?
I am happy to identify with the poor and the needy. My mission in the healing ministry motivates me and I feel fulfilled and I find a reason to continue in the service despite the challenges we face in the ministry.
Q: How many are you in the community and what other ministry are you undertaking?
We are four Sisters in our community. Apart from medical ministry, we carry out micro-credit services, pastoral work and adult literacy in the refugee camps.
Meet Sr. Moureen Canpara, SHS of Micro – Credit section.
Q: What is Micro finance-credit service?
This is a form of revolving fund, where we lend money to groups of people who are engaged in buying and selling of goods and services.
Q: How many have benefitted from this micro finance?
There areabout 36,550 beneficiaries with 43 groups, where each group comprises of 700-1,000 people. Since this microfinancing service started way back in South Sudan, the first beneficiaries now act as team mobilizers. There are 20 groups on waiting list!
Q: How do you operate Micro finance?
A: We give each group UGX 150,000 (USD 42), and they return it with 10% interest.
Q: Do you render other services?
Yes, we do workshops on trauma healing, business administration, prayer, and retreats/ recollection
Q: What are some of your challenges?
A: I’m not professionally prepared for this microfinancing service. The cost of transport incurred during the process of recovering the loan is relatively high when compared to what we recover. We have three zones very far apart (over 35 kms). There is inadequate facilitation and need for professional qualification in financial administration and counseling. Insufficient pool for the revolving fund. We have 20 groups on waiting list pending funds. The elderly people are abandoned at the mercy of the sisters, and the youth are seeking sponsorship for studies; sometimes the needs are overwhelming.
Q: Do you have success stories?
There are quite many, Juan Esther has been a beneficiary since 2017. Her husband could not bear the situation in the camps. Having gone back to Juba (South Sudan), he left the Esther with three primary school -going children and a baby. Esther is able to fend for her single headed family; pay school fees, feed and have good shelter.
Poni Esther is a widow, sickly though; she pays school fees for her son and daughter and buys medicine and food to keep healthy. “I feel socially empowered because I’m great among equals!” she says.
The family of Taban Richard and Kiden Scovia are happy for the program because economically they feel uplifted. “We work hand in hand with madam Kiden, who takes care of the day to day expenses of our family. I take care of school fees and medical bills. This makes us enjoy peace in our home,” Taban remarks.
While Celina Lowelek thanks God saying, “I have rested after joining the hardworking group facilitated by microfinance credit. Since my husband went back to Juba, I have managed my family and kept my children in school after putting up a retail shop.”