Planting seeds of Peace in South Sudan

Our coordinator for Africa, Dieudonné Serukabuza, is sharing his testimony on his recent tour in South Sudan for mid-term evaluation of the “Active Nonviolence and peacebuilding” program.  

The program of Pax Christi International in South Sudan is planting seeds of peace, making impact little by little.

 

“After my mission to Mombasa/Kenya, I went to South Sudan for the mid-term evaluation. 

After the visit of the Pope, people are aware of violence, they start making some actions, thanks to the Church involvement. I went to the field, sometimes by road, sometimes by plane, I have met religious sisters and students in schools. I visited the refugee camps (IDP: Internal Displaced people). They are living there for 10 years in bad conditions.

I saw changes and heard testimonies from young people, adults, the mothers, village elders, teachers, and priests, including the bishop of Tombura-Yambio diocese and the secretary general of Council of Churches. I met the director of the Catholic Radio Network, Mrs. Mary AJITH agreed to work with the religious sisters to promote through radio broadcasts the Pax Christi program on active nonviolence and peacebuilding.

I had talks with youth groups in the parishes, sometimes violent youth groups in the villages. They accepted to change, to become artisan of peace thanks to the training given by the sisters. Those groups gave back the pangas (= the machetes) to the elders, but as compensation, they are requesting the income generating activities.

The program of Pax Christi International in South Sudan is planting seeds of peace, making impact little by little.”