Children in South Sudan kick off World Refugee Day and Day of the African Child with “Sport for Peace”
The children came to play. For peace. For their future.
With whistles blowing, cheers echoing, and footballs flying, over 500 children across Melut County in Upper Nile State kicked off celebrations for the Day of the African Child and World Refugee Day in a spirited sports festival aimed at promoting peace, resilience, and hope for a better future.
Tagged as “Sport for Peace”, the children who experienced displacements, hunger, discrimination, and violence, came together not to compete but to connect. They showcased the power of sports in building bridges, healing wounds, and restoring hope and joy in communities deeply affected by conflict, displacement, and hunger.
“The Sport for Peace games made us happy. Although we lost our match, we are pleased that we took part,” said Abuk Abouk, one of the young participants.
The event is the first of its kind in Melut. More than a tournament, it was a celebration of coming together as one community where unity, courage, and the right of every child to a safe, joyful childhood are not just aspired to, but celebrated and achieved. Participants hailed from five primary schools across the county’s payams, many of whom have lived through displacement, loss, and the daily uncertainties of conflict.
One of these children is Sunday, a 14-year-old student. Sunday has been displaced twice — once by South Sudan’s 2014 crisis and more recently by the 2024 conflict in Sudan. Her educate and sense of safety and normaly were upended. Yet during the Sport for Peace, by playing games with children like her, she has found hope.
“This Sport for Peace is an important activity for young people like us because it helped us build friendships and connect with other children,” Sunday shared.
Beyond the field, the games are a platform to empower children, especially girls, through teamwork, leadership, and confidence-building. Winning teams receive trophies, and top performers will form Melut’s first all-girls football team — a powerful symbol of change and inclusion.
The event was spearheaded by World Vision South Sudan, through its integrated programs — EMPOWER, Right to Grow (R2G), and the Nexus Accelerator Fund (NAF). These programs collectively work to:
- Promote gender equality and education for girls
- Improve nutrition and food security through local agriculture
- Build community resilience against disasters and conflict
- Enhance psychosocial support and peacebuilding efforts
“We’re seeing meaningful change. More girls are in school, more men are embracing positive roles, and stronger communities are coming together for peace,” said James Ring Ring, Project Manager at World Vision South Sudan.
Both World Refugee Day and the Day of the African Child spotlight the struggles and rights of some of the most vulnerable populations in the world — especially children affected by displacement, hunger, violence, and lack of education.
In South Sudan, where years of instability have left many children without access to clean water, adequate nutrition, or schooling, events like "Sport for Peace" remind us of what’s possible when children are given space to thrive.
About EMPOWER, R2G and NAF
Nexus Accelerator Fund (NAF): World Vision’s Nexus Accelerator Fund focuses on building resilience in crisis-affected communities by addressing humanitarian needs in agriculture, food security, and livelihoods. The program emphasizes disaster preparedness through training on emergency management systems, early warning mechanisms, and anticipatory action. It also promotes peacebuilding by fostering collaboration among local authorities and faith leaders.
EMPOWER Project: Funded by Irish Aid, the EMPOWER project strengthens local structures to support the participation of women and girls in education and community life. It tackles socio-cultural barriers, promotes gender-sensitive and inclusive education, and raises awareness about harmful gender norms and GBV. The initiative also enhances psychosocial support services, aiming to build a safer, more equitable society.
Right2 Grow: Right2Grow is a five-year initiative in South Sudan led by a consortium of national and international NGOs, supported by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It focuses on health, nutrition, WASH, food security, child protection, and budget advocacy. In Melut, the project, implemented by World Vision, has strengthened local structures like mother-to-mother support groups and improved nutrition by promoting local vegetable cultivation and advocating for seed provision, particularly benefiting children under five.
Story and photos by Alan Leju Roba, Communications Officer, World Vision South Sudan