A Catholic Church Movement known as PAX Christi International has initiated a new project on peace-building and non-violence response in South Sudan. The organization has concluded five days of training with religious sisters in Juba.
At least 20 catholic sisters from Malakal, Juba Archdiocese, Wau, Torit Rumbek, and Tombura Yambio participated.
Africa Regional Coordinator for PAX Christi from Belgium, Dieudonne’ Sadi says the initiative will empower religious sisters on active non-violence and peace-building.
“The purpose of this project is to empower the sisters on active non-violence and peacebuilding and also to train them on how to assist a victim of violence, trauma hilling, and we trained them also on transformational leadership.”
PAX Christi is a global non-governmental Catholic peace movement working on human rights, disarmament and demilitarisation, a just world order, and religion and violent conflict.
Sadi says his organisation will work closely with South Sudan to build durable peace and reduce violence.
“We are a Catholic movement dealing with peacebuilding. In this Country South Sudan, we would like to reduce violence and implement peace. This project is a pilot project, if we succeed with this project by next year we will extend to other Dioceses.”
After the end of this project, we would like to see changes in youth become committed peacebuilders in this Country, “Dieudonne adds.”
The organization also hopes to promote sports to bring youth together for peace awareness.
The Project Assistant of PAX Christi in South Sudan Sister Regina Achan says part of their role is to make people understand peace-building which she hopes reduce violence.
“I hope if this peacebuilding is carried out and many people are made known, there will be a good result. Because as human beings we need to have peace. We need to have peace; we need to enjoy life and we need to be happy with other people and with such a project I think it will work.”
We are coming as PAX Christi to join other organisations that have been focusing on peacebuilding so that together we can make it, “Sister Regina states.”
Sister Regina regrets lack of faithfulness in God in the hearts of many South Sudanese because it contributes negatively to the suffering of people.
PAX Christi International said its work in South Sudan will start with youth at dioceses, women leaders, and community members.
Pax Christi International is a non-profit, non-governmental Catholic peace movement working on human rights, human security, disarmament and demilitarisation, a just world order, and religion and violent conflict.