A project for a peaceful future for children and young people in South Sudan through psychological counselling, awareness-raising measures, and peacebuilding activities in communities, as well as school renovations and entrepreneurship training for young people.
South Sudan is one of the poorest and least developed countries in the world. A civil war lasting over 40 years, along with its political, social, and economic consequences, has severely hindered the country’s development and forced millions of people to flee. In the districts of Kajo-Keji and Magwi in the south of the country, returning refugees now meet those who remained during the war. Many suffer from the lasting effects of traumatic wartime experiences. People from different (ethnic) cultures and political backgrounds come together, while gender norms and limited access to education and employment further complicate everyday life. All these factors contribute to increased conflict potential within local communities.
Peaceful coexistence as a foundation for a better future
Against this background, there is an urgent need for reconciliation, conflict resolution, and peace processes to address the ongoing tensions between different population groups. Informal local peacebuilding activities play a key role in this endeavour. They help to restore trust between communities and stabilise relationships. At the same time, armed conflicts have a profound impact on people’s mental and psychosocial health. Unresolved war-related trauma can perpetuate cycles of violence. Therefore, it is all the more important to raise awareness of psychosocial issues within communities and to provide professional support for those affected by trauma – laying the foundation for peaceful coexistence.
Multifaceted activities to promote social cohesion and build future prospects
Based on a long-standing cooperation, SA4D and the local partner organisation Community Psychosocial Support Organisation (CPSO) have launched the project “Peace in Motion”. The project aims to promote peaceful coexistence in communities, strengthen the psychosocial well-being of people affected by conflict, and support the educational and entrepreneurial development of young people. Through high-quality psychological counselling, awareness-raising measures, and community-based sport and play activities, the project seeks to foster stability and peace.
In addition to the renovation of schools to improve access to education for children and adolescents, students will also be provided with knowledge on hygiene, sexual and reproductive health and rights, resilience, and non-violent conflict resolution.
Given the high levels of unemployment and poverty, which hinder the country’s social and economic recovery, the project also includes technical and entrepreneurial training for adolescents and young adults. These training sessions are based on the validated SA4D approach of interactive, play-based experiential learning and promote the active participation of learners. The overarching goal is to open up new income-generating opportunities, enhance employability, and create long-term prospects for the project participants.