Hold the child, a non-profit organization supporting vulnerable children in disaster affected communities, has decided to respond to the plight of the children in South Sudan, by recognizing them as powerful actors in Peace building.

“The children are our next generation, we hope that we can have a generation that will never hear the sound of gunshots, a generation that will think of peaceful nights and a generation that appreciates peace,” said Mr. Denis Ogen Rwot, Hold the child information officer.

Hold the child has launched Solidarity for hope campaign. The campaign is designed to help children shake off stress from painful memories of conflict, come to terms with life and look forward to the future.

“The children are affected mentally and physically, they have seen a lot during the crisis and they really need someone to reach out to them,” he added.

Children account for a great percentage of the victims of conflict in South Sudan. A report released early this year by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs showed some 350,000 children forced out of school by the conflict and more than 10,000 children registered as unaccompanied, separated or missing.

The report showed that “an adolescent girl in South Sudan is three times more likely to die in childbirth than complete primary school.” According to the report, an estimated one million children are believed to be in psycho social distress.

Hold the child has partnered with Play for Peace and has taken the solidarity for Hope campaign to seven schools in Juba city. Children are engaged through games and plays, recreation activities in child friendly space settings, play for peace games, counseling, and peer support.

“We play with them, we sing together, we laugh together and then sit down for a small talk about peace.”

Dennis says the Hold the child has found out that children growing up in conflict situations, have many questions and they need answers, they are looking out there for someone who can answer their questions.

“A child walked up to me after playing and said, I need to write out something and then he wrote down; God why is South Sudan like this?” Another child asked; “when is South Sudan ever going to find peace?”

Dennis says playing provides psycho-social support and helps children enjoy at least some sense of normality.

“The solidarity and togetherness is the real deal here, we play together, chat together, hold hands, clap and then play for peace,” said Dennis,  adding that the ‘play for peace’ strategy is aimed at showing the children that “we are all together in this and we are trying to combat the division,” said Dennis.

“As South Sudanese, we want to speak with one voice, we want to be one tribe South Sudan and we are going to be one South Sudanese, no matter what,” Dennis added.

Hold the child organization plans to reach out to 12,000 Children with basic psycho-social support and protective life skills and another 3,000 Households will be reached with parenting and Child protection key messages.