Boma Peace and Education

ACROSS has been implementing various projects in Jebel Boma County since the 1990’s. In recent years, ACROSS began the second phase of a project called “Promoting Peaceful Co-Existence and Access to Education among Communities in Jebel Boma County”. Since the implementation of this project, which focuses on dialogue and establishing community leaders as ambassadors of peace, many communities have reported a reduction in raiding and violence. In 2018, more than 2300 people in Boma Jebel County participated directly in peace dialogue and over 11,000 people were exposed to messages of peace through the community peace leaders.

Recognizing that all people in the community have an interest in peace, ACROSS strives to engage various members in healthy activities that promote positive relationships between neighbouring people. One example of this is youth football. Pictured here is the second annual Play for Peace football tournament with more than 100 total participants playing on four teams. Participants reported that this years’ games had an improved atmosphere of sportsmanship and healthy competition.

Youth also gather to engage in peace dialogue. This is an important aspect of the program because it is often the youth in an area who conduct raiding. By acknowledging the challenges and seeking alternatives, these youth are making positive strides toward a peaceful South Sudan for future generations to come.