A four-month youth peacebuilding project has been launched in Raja County to strengthen social cohesion and promote peaceful relations amid concerns over land, water, livelihoods and challenges affecting refugees.
The “Strengthening Social Cohesion and Peacebuilding for Youth in Raja County” project will run from September to December 2026, with US$15,000 in financial support from the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR).
The project was officially launched on Thursday, bringing together county authorities, religious leaders, youth and women representatives, refugees, internally displaced people and members of the host community.
A total of 35 participants attended the launch, including 26 men and nine women.
The gathering included the Raja County Executive Director, who is also acting on behalf of the county commissioner, officials from the Relief and Rehabilitation Commission, a Payam administrator, the Paramount Chief, Gender, Child and Social Welfare representatives, the Director of Protocol and a National Security representative.
Religious leaders from different denominations also attended, including Bishop Rev. Peter Jonathan of the Episcopal Church of South Sudan, an Imam from the Islamic community, a Catholic catechist and a representative from the Pentecostal church.
Bishop Rev. Peter Jonathan and the Imam blessed the launch, while Raja County Executive Director Abdurahaman Gasim served as guest of honour.
While the project focuses on peacebuilding, participants said lasting peace would require attention to the social and economic pressures affecting communities.
Host community representatives raised concerns over water, sanitation and hygiene, food security and business activities, while also pointing to tensions that can emerge around access to shared resources.
“Land and water are among the key resources that communities have to share,” participants said during discussions, highlighting the need for dialogue around resource access.
Refugee representatives also raised concerns over immigration-related issues, access to land for settlements, water, rental accommodation and education for their children.
They said limited economic opportunities have made it difficult for refugees to establish and expand businesses and improve their livelihoods.
During the launch, Youth Link South Sudan Programme Manager Voya James presented the project’s objectives, four-month implementation period and planned activities.
James highlighted the importance of young people in promoting dialogue, social cohesion and peace within their communities.
“Young people have an important role to play in promoting social cohesion, dialogue and peacebuilding,” the project presentation emphasised.
A peace committee was formed immediately after the launch to support dialogue and community-level peacebuilding activities.
Participants also called for greater support for communities and local organisations in areas including agribusiness, WASH, livelihoods, youth empowerment and women’s empowerment.
The discussions highlighted the connection between peace and access to basic services and economic opportunities, particularly in communities where refugees, internally displaced people and host communities live alongside one another.
The project will now move into its implementation phase, with the newly formed peace committee expected to support dialogue and help address issues affecting social cohesion in Raja County.
The initiative is expected to provide a platform for young people and other community groups to engage in dialogue while identifying practical ways to address tensions linked to resources, livelihoods and relations between host and displaced communities.
