Lafaek News–South Sudan has a youth population accounting for over 70% of its total population, and amid high unemployment and limited access to education, supporting youth development remains a key challenge.
Against this backdrop, the International Peace Youth Group (IPYG) and the South Sudan National Youth Union (SSNYU) operated an educational program, “Y-BRIDGE Academy,” for youth representatives.
SSNYU is a nationwide youth organization established after South Sudan’s independence in 2011. It represents young people across regions while carrying out policy advocacy, capacity-building, and peace promotion activities. IPYG is a youth organization under Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light (HWPL), working with youth groups in over 130 countries with the vision of ending war and leaving peace as a legacy for future generations.
The program was conducted online over three weeks starting April 18, with 21 regional representatives from across South Sudan participating. It was designed to integrate AI utilization skills with peace leadership.
The first session focused on proposal writing using AI tools and their practical applications, while subsequent sessions provided opportunities to deepen mutual understanding based on religion and cultural heritage.
Amid a global reality where conflicts and wars persist, there is a growing call for youth to step forward as practitioners of peace to safeguard their own future. The program highlighted that youth should go beyond learning about peace and become a “legacy of peace” by putting it into practice.
The training emphasized that inclusivity and understanding of different cultures and beliefs play a critical role in mitigating conflict. According to various international studies, differences in religious beliefs and worldviews continue to lead to misunderstanding and distrust, in some cases escalating into violence. This underscores the urgent need for a practical approach grounded in mutual understanding.
This program was implemented based on an agreement between IPYG, South Sudan’s Ministry of Youth and Sports, and SSNYU. Notably, the initiative has moved beyond simple exchanges to become an actionable program that links youth education with peace activities.
Moses Ujua, Deputy Secretary of Sports at the SSNYU, shared his thoughts: “This training met our youth’s expectations. AI tools have made proposal writing—once a barrier to employment—much simpler. Our youth can now use AI for research and documentation with confidence. We are grateful for this opportunity and will provide the technical support to expand participation in future sessions.”
And Jepete John Aquila, Secretary of Culture and Heritage at the SSNYU, added,
“This program needs to be expanded to areas with limited communication infrastructure.”
In response, IPYG plans to continue expanding youth engagement by carrying out various collaborative programs in the future.
