BENTIU – Peacekeeping is more than just a job for the Mongolian peacekeepers serving with the United Nations Mission in South Sudan.

It’s a mission to connect with the communities that they came to serve.

So, it’s no surprise to see the joyful cheering when the peacekeeping patrol is welcomed to a school in the camp for displaced families next to the mission’s field office in Bentiu, Unity State.

The school has long lacked government funding, which means its 60 teachers provide classes on a volunteer basis, doing their utmost to ensure the children get the best education possible and the chance to reach their full potential in life despite the many challenges they face.

“We need government support. Most of us are unpaid, and at times, we have to collect fees from the children’s families just to keep the school running,” shares Head Teacher, Michael Tergiek. “The children motivate us so much though with their urgent desire to learn.”

What used to be a United Nations Protection of Civilians site requiring a constant peacekeeping presence transitioned into a conventional displacement camp under the responsibility of the government several years ago.

But this change has not diminished the deep respect and connections between the local communities and UNMISS peacekeepers, particularly the Mongolian contingent, which has been stationed in the area for more than a decade.

A perfect illustration of this deep connection is the fact that many of the South Sudanese children and even adults living in the camp can speak the Mongolian language.

“There are a lot of kids, teenagers and adults that speak Mongolian as we’ve been here since 2012. At that time, these kids were still small and now they have grown up to be teenagers or young adults. Some of them are absolutely fluent and completely understand what we’re talking about,” smiles Mongolian Deputy APC Company Commander, Altantulga Jargalan.