To mark the International Day of the Girl Child, more than 600 students from the Don Bosco primary and secondary school inaugurated their new peace garden in Juba.

Celebrating the event on the peace garden inside Don Bosco premises, the catholic school also invited fathers, sisters and teachers to share a mass, hoping for the recently revitalized peace agreement to put an end to the country’s almost five years of civil war.

“Lord make me a channel of your peace” was the theme of the prayers said to pronounce the opening of the peace garden, which was funded by the United Nations Mission in South Sudan.

Amidst challenging circumstances in the young nation, Veronica Aman Alier, 17, knows her rights as a girl.

“We are not given all our rights. Some of our parents think that we don’t have the right to go to school. A lot of girls in our villages are expected to be house girls and [then] house wives,” Veronica Aman Alier said, explaining the challenges girls face in her country. “Traditionally, we are being prepared for [our families to receive] a dowry.

Veronica would like to contribute to improve the conditions of girls and women, and she has a plan for how to go about it.

“I want to become a politician, to defend the rights of girls in South Sudan,” she said, hoping that her dreams will turn into reality.

Every year, 11 October is globally commemorated to highlight girls’ issues and to empower their quest to fully enjoy their human rights. This year, the day was marked to emphasise girls’ rights to education and freedom of movement in the country.

The revitalized peace agreement recently inked in Addis Ababa gives Veronica hope.

“Our people are scattered all over the world. I hope this peace agreement will one day bring all people around South Sudan and outside the country back to their homeland.”

Alakiir Chol Akoi, a friend of Veronica, travels 10 kilometres every day to get to school.  She is keen to acquire all the knowledge she will need to one day make it possible for her to run a law firm, to keep advocating for the rights of girls and women.

“Sometimes it is very frightening to track back home at night, through the dark city of Juba,” Alakiir said. “Girls’ special needs are little looked after in South Sudan.”

The new peace garden will serve as an enduring reminder of the importance of living in harmony with each other, regardless of ethnic background or other affiliation.

 “This is not a one-time event. I hope the peace garden will be used as a venue for future outreach and peace-promoting activities,” Hiroyuki Saito, head of the peacekeeping mission’s Outreach Unit, remarked.