High-pitched ululations, music, dancing and inspiring statements about the power, abilities and rights of women were all parts of an emotional UNMISS essay writing competition award ceremony at Don Bosco Senior Secondary School in Juba.

“My husband and I have always encouraged our three children to do their best to reach success and to be as involved as possible in issues that concern them,” says Anna Akech, the ultimate ululator of the day and also mother of Gladys, winner of the Central Equatoria regional final of the national essay competition, organized by the United Nations Mission in South Sudan.

“My main message is that women need to form associations in their communities, because otherwise there is no way you can get your message and information out to the rest of the world. Together, these associations can form organizations at the national level,” suggests 15-year-old Gladys Anek Cornelius Oyat.

Pondering the theme of the essay contest, how women can contribute to durable peace in South Sudan, Gladys concludes, however, that females face overwhelming and persisting challenges to get properly involved.

“Some of our cultural ways of life are a problem. Having a true education, that is when one can be in close contact with one’s country and its issues. Our tribes have to give up their practices of stopping girls from getting into schools and in touch with the modern world,” she opines, adding that many South Sudanese men view women only as “wealth”.

The Jubek ministers of Education and of Gender, Child and Welfare, more than 200 students and teachers and a number of UN peacekeepers were all present for this joyous occasion on the outskirts of the capital, Juba. A spine-tingling rendition of ‘Only You’ (not Yazoo’s and Alison Moyet’s smash hit from the early 1980s, though) by the school choir was followed by a nimble, yet infectious and robust, cultural drumming and dancing performance by Rwandan keepers of peace.

And the importance of peace to women, somewhat predictably, came to dominate the agenda and speeches of the day.

“Peace is essential for us women, because without it the possibility to enjoy life does not exist,” said Rose Lisok Paulino, Jubek Minister of Gender, Child and Welfare. “Women constitute 65 per cent of our population, we are the breadwinners in many households. Women were the first to arrive in Addis [for the peace talks] but the last to be invited to and be included in the forum,” she added, lamenting that the implementation of gender equality legal frameworks in South Sudan is “slow”.

A total of 34 thought-provoking essays from 16 different secondary schools in Juba and Yei were submitted in the Central Equatoria region. On 9 May a national winner will be selected and awarded at a celebration in Juba, which will gather the most prominent student writers from across the country.

While only three students in Central Equatoria could be given prizes, Malick Ceesay, representing the head of the UN Mission’s Juba Field Office, pointed out that everyone involved deserves recognition.

“You [participating writers] are all winners. In fact, we are all winners, participating directly or not, because this competition is something done in the name of peace.”

The prize-winners all have bright ideas about how women can contribute, proactively or not, to durable peace in the country. A common denominator is the need for women to get involved in general and in intercommunal dialogues, workshops and discussions where issues of peace and security are negotiated in particular.

Another line of thought is for females to empower themselves by seeking opportunities to increase their skills and knowledge, not least from women already occupying positions of power. Once prepared, the prize-winners advocate for women to mobilize each other, with third-placed Ladu Elpidio Redento Kulang (who attends Don Bosco Senior Secondary School, just like Gladys) hailing successful female mobilization to end the conflict in the West African country Liberia.

“I have experienced several ways where women are ignored and said to be just housewives and nothing much,” writes runner-up Diana Nunu James, a student at the Juba Diocesan Model Secondary School.

“In a few years to come I will also be a grown-up woman. I also have the right to speak my mind and participate in decisions in this country. It is my right as a citizen,” Diana, who wants to become an engineer or a journalist, says.

The headmaster of the Don Bosco Senior Secondary School, Anastasio Nyaga Kiura, also indulged in some musings on this remarkable day.

“Women”, he said, “are a special creation. Without our mothers we would not have been here.”

Fortunately, we both were and rejoiced.