International Youth Day Spotlight
Markaz Al Salam, a youth-led NGO backed by Norwegian People’s Aid, used International Youth Day to commend South Sudanese youths for confronting modern challenges with courage, creativity and conviction.
Theme Aligns with SDG Ambitions
This year’s global theme, “Local Youth Actions for the SDGs and Beyond,” mirrors the aspirations of young South Sudanese who increasingly see themselves as architects of their country’s stability and prosperity.
Grass-Roots Impact Across States
From Juba’s tech hubs to cattle camps in Lakes State, youths are mediating local disputes, launching agri-start-ups and mentoring classmates displaced by conflict, testimony to what MAS calls “the transformative power of youth-led initiatives”.
Legislative Hopes Fuel Momentum
MAS urges parliament to fast-track the Youth National Development Policy, the Women and Youth Enterprise Fund Bill and the Women, Youth and Sports Bill, arguing that easier credit and clearer frameworks could scale community solutions already piloted by volunteers.
Call for Wider Support
The organisation reaffirms its commitment to training and seed funding while appealing to government, donors and private firms to embed youth at every decision-making table, citing evidence that inclusive growth reduces the risk of relapse into conflict.
Optimism amid Challenges
Despite sporadic violence and limited infrastructure, MAS highlights a “generation unafraid to imagine a different South Sudan,” contending that their persistence offers a credible pathway toward the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.