South Sudan Youth Future Prospects
At a storytelling conference in Juba, Undersecretary for Peacebuilding Pia Philip Michael challenged South Sudan’s youth to channel their vigour into constructive pursuits that can secure livelihoods and stability.
Addressing participants gathered by Search for Common Ground, Michael stressed that present choices will determine tomorrow’s stature, warning that misdirected energy could leave a generation ‘sitting in the wrong position’ later in life.
Nation Building and Community Engagement
He urged young citizens to embrace nation-building tasks, from organising football matches in displacement camps to offering psychosocial support, calling such initiatives ‘your responsibilities to the Republic of South Sudan’.
According to the ministry, grassroots volunteerism can reinforce unity across ethnic lines and bolster ongoing peace accords by demonstrating tangible dividends of harmony.
Storytelling as a Peacebuilding Tool
The conference spotlighted storytelling as a low-cost mechanism for healing trauma and countering hate narratives that often fuel local conflicts.
Search for Common Ground facilitators reported that shared personal stories enable participants to recognise common struggles, creating empathy that can translate into cooperative action.
Voices from Youth and Experts
University student Abuk Garang said the sessions motivated her to mentor younger girls, noting that ‘productive time keeps us from negative peer pressure’.
Regional analyst Dr. Mandla Ncube observed that South Sudan’s demographic boom can be either a dividend or a liability, depending on investments in skills and civic engagement.
Sustainable Peace Outlook
Michael concluded that sustainable peace requires consistent youth empowerment, a vision the ministry intends to pursue through upcoming vocational schemes and expanded community dialogues.