In two weeks, the world will observe the International Day of Peace – the Young Women Christian Association (YWCA) in Yambio is kick starting commemoration by promoting peaceful co-existence at local level. 

“Our aim is to start in people’s homes and go higher with peace messages,” said Modi Mbaraza, the Executive Director of the YWCA in Yambio, Western Equatoria.

The local organisation runs a ‘peace makers’ and ‘peace builders’ program, aimed at resolving conflict among communities. The youth are trained and given a better understanding of violence prevention, and how to effectively mediate in conflict to make a positive change in their societies. 

“More than 2,000 young women and men are enrolled in this peace initiative,” said Mbaraza. “What we want to do is give them the tools they need to make a positive difference,” she expounded. 

Mbaraza told the UN Radio that the program has been effective in ‘resetting mind-sets,’ by tackling the question of peace in a clear and logical approach.  “When we bring them together, we explain to them how important it is to co-exist peacefully, and they carry the same messages to their communities.” 

On who is a peacemaker and how different they are from peace builders, Mabaraza explained that a peacemaker is a person who brings about peace, especially by reconciling adversaries, while a peace builder initiates peace among conflicting parties. 

Mbaraza said the YWCA plans to extend the program to other parts of the country, in the hope that the positive effects mount up to create lasting sustainable peace.  

The YWCA, that primarily promotes women's welfare, also runs a trauma healing and counselling program in Yambio where they mediate in conflict resolution at household level. 

“Some couples separate but after they have attended our counselling, families have testified that they have been able to live in harmony with their spouse,” she said. 

Mbaraza stressed the peace making starts in “the heart” and cannot be “handed over,” adding that “it is our responsibility as South Sudanese to accept one another and work together for peace.”