South Sudanese Scoops Danish Livia Award for Peace

William Ongoro is one of the three recipients of the 2016 Livia Award

A south Sudanese peace activist has scooped the Danish Livia Award, given to persons or groups who strive to handle conflicts in society with courage, creativity and nonviolence.

4 Jan 2017

South Sudanese Scoops Danish Livia Award for Peace

Machrine Birungi

A south Sudanese peace activist has scooped the Danish Livia Award,  given to persons or groups who strive to handle conflicts in society with courage, creativity and nonviolence.

William Ongoro is one of the three recipients of the 2016 Livia Award, who received their plaques at a colorful ceremony held in Denmark on November 28th 2016.

Ongoro was recognized for his role in rebuilding relationships, constructing social cohesions and coordinating peace building activities in the country.  He was also recognized for his role to bring the contending parties together for contact, dialogue and mediation, and intervening in light of dangerous situations.

“We acknowledge the well thought and creative measures used by William Ongoro to raise public awareness of constructive conflict resolution and peace building,” said the organizers in a statement posted on the foundation’s website.

According to a statement, the Livia Awards by the Denmark based Livia foundation are given to people, who with surprising creativity and courage and when all hopes seem blocked, create ways to transform conflicts into new possibilities.

“The world is full of conflicts, which need to be managed with reason. The Livia foundation aims to show the public that it is possible – in Denmark as well as the surrounding world.”

Speaking to Radio Miraya, Ongoro said the Peace Prize has given him an emotional moment to realize that little things done for the sake of peace matter. “Sometimes little things are not noticed but they always make an impact to persons and communities,” he said.

The Livia award has inspired Ongoro to consolidate efforts to support the government and other peace partners to achieve genuine and sustainable peace in South Sudan.

“I know it has inspired me, it’s not the end of the path, and it is the long journey that we all look forward to achieve one day,” said Ongoro.

He applauded the UN Radio Miraya, which he described as a peace building tool that has played a critical role in advocating for Peace in South Sudan. “We also acknowledge Miraya FM as a peace building tool for reaching out to the people in South Sudan.

William Ongoro formerly worked as the coordinator of the National Platform for Peace and Reconciliation and also coordinated several peacebuilding activities with the civil society organizations. He also supported the committee for National Reconciliation and healing and the specialized committee of Parliament. 

Today, William Ongoro resumes his work as a specialist consultant on peace building and conflict resolution.