Under the bright October sun, the conference hall in Juba was alive with color, laughter, and a quiet, powerful determination.
Rows of young women, some draped in traditional attire, others in sharp suits clutched their certificates, exchanged embraces, and posed for photographs. But this was more than just a graduation ceremony.
It was a moment that captured a shifting tide in South Sudan’s political story one led by women determined to claim their place at the decision-making table.
The occasion marked the graduation of the latest cohort from the Raising Civil Voices initiative an empowerment and leadership program supported by the European Union (EU).
Over the course of several months, these women had immersed themselves in workshops on political systems, communication strategies, leadership skills, and civic engagement all designed to prepare them for roles once considered the exclusive domain of men.
For Nyibol Manyang, a 27-year-old graduate and civil society volunteer, the program was transformative.
“Before this training, politics felt like a distant world, something for older men in government suits,” she said.
“Now, I understand that governance is about people like me, too. My voice matters, and my community needs it.”
It’s a sentiment shared by dozens of women who completed the program, which was held under the twin themes “Preparing Young Women for Politics” and “Fostering Informed Citizen Engagement for Democracy.”
Their graduation represents more than personal achievement, it symbolizes a growing movement to rewrite the narrative of political leadership in a country still healing from conflict and searching for inclusive governance.
Presiding over the ceremony, Adut Kiir, the Senior Presidential Envoy on Special Programs, hailed the graduates as “trailblazers of change.” In a stirring keynote address, she reminded them — and the nation of the transformative power of women’s leadership.
“Your voices matter,” she told the graduates. “Your presence in politics and civic spaces is not only inspiring but essential to building a South Sudan where equality and inclusion thrive.”
Her words carried weight in a society where women’s political participation remains disproportionately low, despite constitutional guarantees and the tireless advocacy of gender rights groups.
But programs like Raising Civil Voices are beginning to tip the balance, equipping women not just to occupy seats, but to shape policy, challenge inequality, and redefine governance from the ground up.
Adut, reflecting on her own journey, spoke candidly about the challenges of navigating leadership as a woman — and the critical role that solidarity among women has played in her success.
“We are stronger when we lift each other up,” she said. “Together, we are building a future where no woman feels politics is beyond her reach.”
South Sudan’s political space has long been dominated by men — a reality rooted in tradition, conflict legacies, and systemic barriers that discourage women from entering public life.
Yet, despite these obstacles, women have consistently played pivotal roles as peacebuilders, community leaders, and advocates for justice.
What has been missing, experts say, is a pathway for those contributions to translate into sustained political power. Initiatives like Raising Civil Voices aim to fill that gap.
“Empowerment is not just about skills; it’s about confidence and networks,” said one program facilitator.
“These women are leaving with both and with a clear understanding that governance is stronger when it reflects the diversity of its people.”
The program’s emphasis on practical political engagement from campaign strategy to public speaking and policy analysis is already bearing fruit.
Several graduates plan to contest local council positions in upcoming elections, while others are launching grassroots campaigns to mobilize women voters and advocate for legal reforms.
For South Sudan, where democratic institutions are still evolving, the rise of women leaders offers more than symbolic progress.
It represents a recalibration of governance one that prioritizes inclusion, accountability, and community-driven policymaking.
Adut called for deeper collaboration between government agencies, civil society, and international partners to scale such initiatives nationwide, ensuring women from all regions including rural and marginalized communities can access leadership development opportunities.
“This is how we plant the seeds of a truly democratic society,” she said. “And when women lead, nations flourish.”
As the ceremony drew to a close, the graduates posed for one final group photo — a sea of bright faces and bold dreams. Their certificates, clutched proudly in hand, were more than pieces of paper.
They were passports to a new kind of political future — one where women are not just participants but protagonists in South Sudan’s evolving democracy.
For Nyibol and her peers, the journey is only beginning. “We are ready,” she said with quiet resolve. “We’re not asking for space anymore, we’re creating it.”
And with that, the seeds of change — planted in classrooms and workshops, nurtured by mentorship and solidarity — are already beginning to take root, promising a future where South Sudan’s political power is rewritten by the women determined to wield it.
