In South Sudan in 2024, just out of high school, Nyakangba Nelson Luka Poyo asked himself what kind of life a kid born in 2021 in Tambura would have apart from killing, hatred, bloodshed, and living in a camp. Amid tears, that question gave him his life’s purpose. He thought if young people had opportunities to learn and communicate, and the space in which to express themselves, they could realize alternatives to violence. He called it a “Peace Voice.” Young people make up an estimated 70% of South Sudan’s population, yet they have no voice. They are swept up into conflict at a shockingly young age. In a Peace Journey program, Nyakangba learned about Laddership, and how to become a “ladder” for others lifting them up through support and opportunities. Now, through Peace Voices to Vision, he helps young people “develop a common understanding of how to live together peacefully. Everyone deserves peace.”
