Growing up in South Sudan, many of us have known conflict more than calm. Our lives have been shaped by struggle—first for liberation, then for survival.
Independence in 2011 brought hope, but not the peace we had long imagined. More than a decade later, we are still searching, not just for stability, but for something deeper: a culture of peace.
But here’s a hard truth, we cannot build peace around us if we don’t first find peace within us.
South Sudan has never had the luxury of learning how to live in peace. War shaped our history. It became part of our identity. And yet, now, we stand at a crossroads. If we truly want to heal and move forward as a nation, we must turn inward and ask ourselves: Am I at peace with myself?
Inner peace isn’t some distant ideal. It’s a calmness of the heart and mind, even when life is uncertain or painful. It’s about finding your center when everything around you feels unstable. It’s about accepting who you are—flaws, wounds, and all, and choosing to move forward with kindness and clarity.
Many of us are carrying unspoken pain. We’ve seen loss, fear, and division. But holding on to these burdens only deepens our wounds. When we start practicing inner peace, through self-reflection, meditation, or simply allowing ourselves to breathe, we begin to create space for healing.
We often talk about peacebuilding as something political or external. But real change starts in quiet, personal ways. It starts with learning to sit with yourself. To forgive yourself. To speak gently to yourself. That’s self-acceptance, and it’s powerful.
When we embrace ourselves, we become more open to embracing others. We become less reactive, more understanding. And in a country as diverse as South Sudan, that kind of emotional maturity is essential for social harmony.
What if we all took 10 minutes a day to pause, to meditate and reflect, or just breathe deeply? What if we wrote down what we’re grateful for, or asked ourselves what we’ve learned from the day? These are small actions, but over time, they change the way we think and behave.
They help us manage stress, reduce inner conflict, and live with intention. And when people are emotionally grounded, communities become more peaceful.
This reflection is deeply inspired by a lecture on Culture of Peace delivered by Dr. Bennett Khamis Wani, a distinguished lecturer at the National Transformational Leadership Institute (NTLI). Under his guidance, my colleagues and I have been challenged to see peace not just as a national goal, but as a personal responsibility.
Dr. Bennett has been instrumental in nurturing our class of transformational leadership, encouraging us to lead from the inside out. His teachings remind us that lasting peace starts with the courage to look within.
Let’s be honest, it’s not easy. Finding peace within yourself is a journey, not a destination. But it’s a journey worth taking, especially for a country like ours that’s still finding its way.
We cannot rewrite the past, but we can choose how we respond to it. And we can create a future where peace isn’t just a word in political speeches, but a lived experience for every citizen.
So, let’s begin with ourselves. With small steps, honest conversations, and daily acts of self-kindness. Because when we heal our hearts, we make space for peace to grow.
South Sudan deserves that. We deserve that!