It’s been years since the pitter-patter of little feet have been heard at the SOS Children’s Village in Malakal town. There are no giggling children swinging on the playground. What used to be a place of joy now lies desolate.

At Juba 1 Girls’ Primary School, South Sudanese girls sing and dance, articulating their dreams and aspirations.

“We need peace, we need peace. I want to become a doctor,” one sings, drawing a chorus response from her peers.

South Sudan’s second largest city, Malakal, held a peace celebration in scenes reminiscent of the atmosphere when the young country became a republic seven years ago. The celebration was a culmination of a series of engagements between uniformed and civilian leaders from across the divide.