9 March 2008 -- Knowing that the months from December through February can be cold, UNAMID troops donated their own warm clothes and blankets to the internally displaced people (IDPs) of Mallit, a small town north of the city of El Fasher in North Darfur.

“We have come to realize that Darfur still has a long way to go. Yet we are believers that each and every one of us as individuals can and has to make a difference,” said one of the soldiers who preferred to stay anonymous.

Further to their official mandate to protect civilians, UNAMID troops expanded the concept of protection of lives of civilians into protecting school kids from being dropped out.

The UNAMID company received an invitation letter from one of the pre-schools in Mallit celebrating the last day of school year. The soldiers understood from the school faculty that assistance was needed to re-open new classes.

They did not wait. The soldiers took this in their stride, and within an hour they managed to put together enough money to buy stationary for the children. They also gave their own money to buy stationary for the school kids and help other kids pay the school fees.

“It was clear that the collective effort by different officers of different countries, religions, cultures and backgrounds made this humanitarian gesture a success,” said another soldier.

You could see the smiles of gratitude drawn on the faces of parents looking at their kids in the parade with a feeling of assurance that their children will hopefully be able to make it to school next year.

Maj Motsitsi stressed the point of good education to avoid the situation whereby kids become soldiers at an early stage without completing their studies. He said it is through pen and paper as well as good negotiation skills - but not a rifle - that sustainable peace can be attained. “That is why the peacekeepers ensured that they donate books and pens to make this dream a reality. We can all learn a thing or two from these role players, together we stand, and divided we fall,” he remarked.

UNAMID’s presence in this North Darfur town comprises a South African company of around 120 soldiers and a number of Police Advisors.