Valeria Ruiz Sánchez Armida. From Aswan (Egypt)
Saint Daniel Comboni was a fervent believer in the transformative power of education. From the very beginning of the Comboni story, we see him founding three institutes in Old Cairo, dedicated to the education of children, young people, catechumens and African women.
The legacy of St Daniel Comboni
For him, education was the prime means of regenerating Africa. Today, that legacy lives on in the Comboni missions in Egypt, where the school becomes a place of encounter, dialogue and hope.
I am Sister Valeria Ruiz, a Peruvian Comboni missionary. I have been living in Egypt for over four years, at the Aswan mission, where I work as an English teacher and academic supervisor at St Teresa’s School.
Founded in 1896, this institution is the only Catholic school in the region and caters for pupils from nursery level through to the second year of sixth form. Although it is a Catholic school, it welcomes both Christian children — Coptic Catholics and Coptic Orthodox — and Muslim children, making it a unique space for coexistence and learning.
My experience in Egypt has been a journey of hard work and humility as I have learnt Arabic and sought to understand this ancient culture.
Learning from everyday life
A valuable lesson from this mission has been discovering that true interfaith dialogue does not take place at conferences or in theological debates, but in the everyday life of the classroom. There, children – whether Christian or Muslim – play, study and help one another without prejudice.
This simple and authentic experience reveals that interfaith dialogue is embodied in daily coexistence and that it is a bridge towards peace and brotherhood.
Every gesture of love and presence can transform a child’s life. In our school, the future of Egypt and the dream of a more just humanity are being built.
Today I reaffirm the importance of continuing the legacy of St Daniel Comboni in the field of education, especially in Arab countries, where the Gospel is proclaimed silently through service and daily witness.