Meeting for the first time- Youth exchange visits

The two decades of war has brought much suffering and hardship to the communities living in the Three Areas. Many of the youth who were child soldiers during the long civil war between Northern troops and Southern rebels were expose to a culture of violence and mistrust, robbing them of a chance for education and stability in their lives.

Pervading political ideas coupled with high social expectations has led to fierce competition andmistrust between the NCP and SPLM youths who were living in isolation in GOS and SPLA controlled areas respectively. This has deepened the strong divisions among the youth along party lines.

The frustration, misinterpretation and misguided expectations on the CPA’s popular consultation are bound to trigger conflict and consequently, youths are likely to be used by peace spoilers as tools in the conflicts.

 “We were anxious and had mixed feelings of how we would be received by the youth in Kadugli town. But we were surprised at the warm welcome that we received”-  Habil Stephaneous, a youth from Kauda on his first visit to Kadugli.

Pact Sudan, through the FCO, supported a “Trust and Confidence-Building” conference in Kadugli for various party youth representatives.  Following on this conference’s ideas, a three-day conference was held in Kauda in May 2008, funded by the FCO and hosted by Pact Sudan, which brought together youth to discuss themes of peace, stability and development.

Youth engage ina teambuilding exercise in Kadugli. (Photo-Kadugli Youth Association)

As a follow up to the above initiatives, an exchange visit was facilitated between the youth from the GOS controlled areas and the SPLA controlled areas. This was aimed at ‘breaking the ice’ and building networks among the youth in these areas. It also involved acquiring support from the various levels of government and other peace actors to support the development of action plans to tackle issues pertaining peace, stability, development and co-existence amongst youth, regardless of their political, social and religious affiliations.

They shared life experiences, participated in recreational activities and on the last day paid a courtesy call to the local community Radio station where they passed on words of peace and mutual co-existence to the community.

Story By: Aisha Ali/MERL Technical Officer/Peace program