Give a real Christmas gift
As Advent begins, Irish Jesuits International (IJI) have just launched their Christmas gift catalogue. They want to encourage everyone to give “truly meaningful gifts” to their friends, family, and loved ones this year. Visitors to their website can browse their online shop, and make a difference by buying a gift that will help train a teacher or a young apprentice electrician in South Sudan. Or by buying a goat, a water tank or a beehive, that will be given to a farming family. Click here to purchase your particular gift » and receive a card by email or post that you can forward to a loved one as their gift from you this Christmas.
Dr Joe Munnelly is Communications and Research Officer with IJI. He visited South Sudan this September where he witnessed the huge changes that donations such as the above mentioned can make to the lives of people there, especially young people. Read the account of his memorable, uplifting visit below.
The Power of Real Giving
When I arrived at St Peter Faber (SPF) primary school in a village called Akol Jal in South Sudan. The sun was high in the sky, and I was already wilting under its heat, but none of that mattered as I approached the classroom block. Students were excited and had gathered despite still being on their holidays to greet us. Some played football while others shyly smiled or waved at me.
Emer Kerrigan (IJI programs manager) and Rutsuko Matsumoto (IJI project officer) had arrived ahead of me. Fr Eric Wanyonyi SJ, the director of MAJIS, the Multi Educational and Agricultural Jesuit Institute in South Sudan, was with them. Eric is also director of the St Peter Faber primary school and he was taking them on a tour of the school. You could feel the excitement – so much progress and amazing work had been done so far and Eric lit up gesturing towards new construction.
Cement foundations for new classroom blocks had been laid already just beyond where children continued to play in the sunshine. It was a surreal moment for me as I walked under the pavilion. Three years ago, I visited this very place, but the construction site I had remembered was now transformed!
That transformation couldn’t have been possible without the support and generosity of our friends and donors who came out in force for our classroom appeal.
“A dream has become a reality in Akol Jal!” Eric had said back in 2022. With funding from the Build a Classroom Appeal, and funding from Misean Cara in Ireland, 3 new classroom blocks and latrines had been completed transforming the lives of children now and for future generations ahead.
I mention all of this to show the power of solidarity and the impact being men and women for others can make to those at the margins. If I didn’t find this return visit inspiring enough while being shown classrooms – a familiar face became a real sign of just how meaningful our projects can be. He smiled as I outstretched my hand. “Gabriel!” I exclaimed “Wow! It’s been a long time! Nice to see you again”
Gabriel was a student at the Mazzolari Teacher Training College in Cuiebet, a town and a long drive north of Akol Jal. When we had met three years ago, Gabriel was training to be a teacher, and he was as passionate then as he is now – qualified and teaching at St Peter Faber.(See photo above, and photo of Gabriel in the school grounds with Joe).
Meeting him three years ago was a memorable moment for me as it would be difficult to forget the passion (and vocation) he had for teaching and the drive to return as ‘a son of Akol Jal’ and empower and inspire his community to prosper through education and learning.
Gabriel had done what he set out to do, and I was delighted to hear that he had become Dean of the school!
When I think back on this moment – I have mixed emotions. It was wonderful meeting Gabriel and finding out just how far he’d come but I’m saddened knowing of the struggle and challenges teachers face in South Sudan.
The day to day lives of a teacher is a struggle and despite their importance for development in local communities – the importance of education has not been prioritized by the government.
For context, teachers in South Sudan are paid less than $5 per month and often these salaries are delayed.
Stories of teachers walking for miles to bring marginalised children a chance at a brighter future is a sad reality and classroom settings range from tents, grass-huts or simply in the shade of trees.
Teachers do all this whilst struggling under government incompetence, but it is through teaching training projects and YOUR support – that teachers like Gabriel have their voices heard and the support to empower their communities.
At Irish Jesuits International, this Advent we launch our Christmas gift catalogue to encourage everyone to give truly meaningful gifts to their friends and loved one’s this year. Browse our online shop and see how you can make a difference from teacher training to providing a family a goat.
Visit and doing something amazing today »!
Dr Joe Munnelly,
Communications and Research Officer,
Irish Jesuits International.
1 December 2025
