Teachers from the Balanda Viri community have completed an eight-day introductory language training in Wau, in an effort to strengthen the preservation and teaching of one of South Sudan’s indigenous languages.
The training was organised by the Balanda Viri Language Committee with support from the State Ministry of General Education and Instruction.
It focused on basic reading, writing and teaching skills to help participants promote the language in schools and communities.
Organisers said the programme forms part of wider efforts to protect the Balanda Viri language and cultural heritage and ensure it is passed on to younger generations.
Speaking at the closing ceremony, Sophia Santino, chairperson of the Balanda Viri Language Committee, thanked the education ministry, facilitators and participants for supporting the initiative.
Santino urged the trained teachers to apply the skills they had acquired and take an active role in promoting the language within schools and communities.
Amalia Clement Murba, representing the participants, described the training as an important step towards protecting the community’s linguistic identity.
She encouraged parents and community members to help children learn the language through storytelling, daily conversations and other cultural practices.
She also called for refresher courses and technical support from language experts to improve the teaching of Balanda Viri.
Representing the State Ministry of General Education and Instruction, Donato Ugali said indigenous languages play an important role in preserving a community’s history and cultural identity.
He warned that the disappearance of a language could result in the loss of important aspects of a community’s heritage and collective memory.
The initiative is also expected to support the use of Balanda Viri within religious institutions.
Fr Joseph Dawar, parish priest of Saint Mary Help of Christians Cathedral in the Catholic Diocese of Wau, said greater use of the language in worship and scripture could help communities understand religious teachings more easily.
He encouraged the trained teachers to remain committed to promoting the language, including through efforts to translate religious materials into Balanda Viri.
The organisers said the training is part of a broader effort to increase the number of qualified Balanda Viri language teachers and expand the use of the language in classrooms, churches and community life.
South Sudan is home to dozens of indigenous languages, many of which face challenges linked to limited teaching materials, formal instruction and intergenerational transmission.
For the Balanda Viri community, organisers say strengthening language education is therefore not only about communication, but also about preserving cultural identity for future generations.
