JUBA - “This is where the nation’s biggest conversations begin on Radio Miraya’s Breakfast Show.” 

The host of the United Nations-operated radio station in Juba set the scene for the arrival of students from City View Academy, as they took to the airwaves on World Children’s Day. 

They were not only perfectly presented in their neatly pressed uniforms, but also perfectly prepared, and once they took control of the microphone, there was no holding back. 

“As Africans, we have leaders who are strong at creating war, but very weak in bringing peace,” stated courageous 15-year-old Alek Mabior. “The leaders create war while the children are the ones who suffer.” 

“What I want to say to the government, the adults and the elders, is to stop war because the children are the leaders of tomorrow.”

These articulate students seized the opportunity to voice their opinions on the immense challenges affecting youngsters across South Sudan. 

“The situation is too hard,” stressed 13-year-old, Choul Gai. “There are children whose parents cannot afford school fees. We need the government to create free schools, so that poor orphans who can’t even afford education can learn, because they are the future leaders of South Sudan.” 

“The immense poverty is caused because of insecurity,” explained student, Janet Aluk. “If the government provides security across the country, then parents can farm freely because they will not be wondering what will happen. But if there is no security, parents will just stay at home because they think that, if they go outside, their children will be attacked.” 

After deftly handling a raft of questions from listeners, their views on a variety of hot topics continued to flow. 

“Nelson Mandela once said that education is a powerful weapon to change the nation, and we have to change this nation,” said Alek Mabior. “The young children that are suffering are the same people who will make this change. I think the solution to all problems being faced by children in South Sudan is education. Educate them and they will change the nation.” 

“I think girls are always bright, so we need to give them the chance to go to school,” said Choul Gai. “If you educate a girl, you educate a nation. We need to let them go to school and learn, not be married early or forced to stay home.”

The student’s sense of freedom to speak their minds is empowered by their teachers who are passionately fighting for the right of all children to achieve their full potential in life. 

“It is very important to allow children to interact and for elders to hear their voices,” shared teacher, Mabiel Daniel Deng. “Now is the time to give our children their rights, for example to education. It is the time to empower children and give South Sudan a bright future through developing children.” 

These multi-talented children use every possible medium to share their messages, from speaking on radio, to reciting poetry, and producing songs, expressing their sorrow at the plight of children and demanding their right to a better future.