By Charles K. Mark
Faith-based institutions in South Sudan joined the world to mark International Peace Day with a call on citizens to generate peace on an individual basis and replicate it in communities and the nation.
The appeal came during a peace rally organized by the Daughters of Mary Immaculate Sisters (DMI) on Thursday, in Juba.
Vice Chancellor of Catholic University in South Sudan, Professor, Fr. Matthew Pagan said the Kingdom of God and love are what constitute peace in any circumstances.
Fr. Pagan said at a crucial time as experienced by South Sudan, to realize genuine peace, academic programs must be tailored in a manner that connects the people to what they do in order to avoid unemployment.
“We are beginning to gear programs towards practice-based programs. That is competence-based programs. The programs must be related to the jobs,” he said
He said a post-conflict South Sudan needs technical education to empower the youth in job creation for self-reliance to mitigate engagement in conflicts.
Fr. Pagan noted that self-sustainability can be derived when one is able to create jobs and offer technical support to the labor market.
Country Director of Daughters of Mary Immaculate Sisters (SDMI) Rev. Sister Rengis Mary said peace begins with an individual.
According to Sr. Mary, though war and violence undermine stability and development, only peace can help the potential to thrive.
“Peace begins with me. A commitment to this by everyone around the world would mean over seven billion commitments to peace. That’s a lot of peace,” Sr. Mary Said.
The head of the institution called upon an action for peace as an ambition to join the global call of action that recognizes the individual and collective responsibilities to foster peace in communities.
“We can make South Sudan a better place if we allow peace to begin with us. The journey to peace in South Sudan is perceived by many to be too long, but you, yes you and we can make it to the end,” Sr. Mary explained.
She underlined that the absence of peace basically means conflict among community members.
Meanwhile, Munuki Block C residential chief, John Henry, urged the communities to support peace efforts right from their families then to communities.
“Every day I make it a point to offer ten (10) smiles to ten (10) people. And if you do that in your life you will also see changes and peace in yourself. You will be like me,” Chief John said.
However, the chief described peace in South Sudan as security; safety and stability through which the country-mates can continuously conduct their own businesses for self-sustainability.
The theme for International Peace Day 2023 is “Actions for Peace: Our Ambition for the #GlobalGoals.” The theme issues a powerful call to action, urging individuals and nations alike to take tangible steps toward promoting peace.
It emphasizes that peace is a fundamental prerequisite for achieving all the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).