The government and a youth-led organisation known as Inspiration Youth Generation (IYG) has launched the first-ever documentary titled “Expectation in life” to inspire young South Sudanese.

The documentary offers insight on how one can go through numerous challenges that hinder youth from achieving their dreams in life, and to beat challenges and becoming successful.

Speaking during the launch, the Registrar General of NGOs at Relief and Rehabilitation Commission (RRC) Dominic Michael Gerge, said such initiatives that are often led by the country’s youth could change the negative mindset of the young people.

He said the initiative helps young people in the country to promote peaceful co-existence.

“Now, having such a platform being led by a young group of youth who think positively to back up their lives without support from the government is amazing; it is the only way for peaceful co-existence among youth,” Mr Gerge stressed.

He called on the youth to shun tribalism adding the vice divides the country.

“Let us stop identifying ourselves in tribal lines, let us identify ourselves as South Sudanese; by doing that. we stand a chance to unite our country and mitigate further conflict in future,” he appealed.

The registrar further revealed that RRC is mandated by its NGOs Act 2016 to support such initiatives as a tool to alleviate violence in the country.

Gerge appealed to the youth group to work hard to establish coordination offices across the country especially in the counties and three administrative areas.

“You must reach out to the youth in the country, and sell out the ideas, and by doing that you would have achieved your objectives, missions, and the vision.”

He appreciated the youth for their effort in coming up with such positive ideas saying that it shows how responsible and creative the youths are concerned about their fellow young people.

Gerge said it was very important for the youth to build their talents in society and play a vital role in contributing to the development of the society

Youth efforts needed

Amwony Josephine, the IYG representative who is also one of the authors in the country, said it was high time for young people to work for themselves to promote and take lead in the development of the country.

Ms Josephine said whenever the youth come up with such initiatives to promote and work for them, it is easier for them to come together.

“It helps them speak the language that they can understand each other, help them to know how to treat each other better, they know how to approach each other and they know how to identify their issues,” Ms Josephine stated. 

She revealed that (IYG) is a national organisation formed in 2020 by a group of young and visionary people who have identified social issues that have hindered youths from achieving their dreams in life.

Josephine highlights some of the issues that hinder youth from achieving their goals which include unemployment, lack of entrepreneurship skills, lack of career guidance, and talent promotion

She said due to these challenges, the youth tend to look down on themselves as people without a future, saying as a result most of them have engaged themselves in activities like robbery, drug abuse, and prostitution.

“IYG was formed primarily to give hope and empower youths who have given up in life so that they can become better leaders to participate in national development.

“We youth (IYG) know how to identify our problems, we know how to come up with solutions to our problems and we know how to capitalise and how to use our resources to develop our people.” She stressed.

Plans ahead

She said within 2021 to 2021, IYG has gone through several activities and reached many young people in the communities including within their neighbourhoods especially promoting entrepreneurial skills in the schools.

She advised her colleagues to have good language to change, and empower others who are negative and too weak to speak for the voiceless people.

“This is the hope that we have, that when we come together, we will do more for our country and we will change many people and empower many people and draw many people to work for themselves.”