JONGLEI/GREATER PIBOR – Peace begins when every child can complete their education.

Thanks to a partnership between the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS)and Smile Again Africa Development Organization (SAADO), some 300 students of the Manyabol Primary School, can now study to their heart’s content in two newly constructed classroom blocks.

These classrooms were handed over recently and received with joy by communities in the area.

“This is a great boost for residents in the area and I urge all parents to prioritize sending their children to school. It is only through education that our future generations will prosper,” said Gabriel Amakori, Minister of Education and Instruction, Greater Pibor Administrative Area.

David Tolu, Programme Director, SAADO, agreed.

“I am heartened by the community’s overwhelming response to this intervention. I believe this improved educational facility is a much-needed beacon of hope for residents, returnees and displaced persons across Manyabol. Inclusive and equitable education is key in building more prosperous, resilient communities,” he stated.

For Geetha Pious, Head of the UN Peacekeeping mission’s Field Office in Jonglei, such collaborative projects are vital in preventing conflict.

“I call on communities to ensure that these new classroom blocks are kept in good condition so that children across Manyabol can have access to learning. The reason UNMISS partners on such projects is because we believe in finding impactful, locally driven solutions that promote durable peace, and we all know that education plays a central role in overall violence reduction in societies,” she averred.

Paramount chief of Manyabol, Kereo Lochoko, agreed.

“A person with education will not engage in cattle raids or revenge attacks, so if these children get quality education here their mindsets will transition from violence to peacebuilding,” he affirmed. 

The handover was made even more special by Finn Church Aid’s pledge of necessary materials, including pens, books, desks, and benches.

These classrooms were funded through UNMISS’ Quick Impact Projects (QIPs) programme, which typically supports small-scale infrastructure initiatives that address urgent public needs.