Celebration Of Culture, Dialogue And Solidarity At Gorom Refugee Settlement

Campaign: Youth For Peace And Unity In Sudan

On Thursday, 28 August 2025, the Sudanese Youth Network (Juba Office), in partnership with Scenius Hub and the Vision Center for Legal Studies, held the second activity of the campaign “Generational Vision: Youth for Peace and Unity in Sudan” at the Gorom Refugee Settlement in Juba.

The day was carefully designed to blend dialogue, cultural celebration, recreation, and learning, with the aim of strengthening peace, building trust, and encouraging coexistence among Sudanese refugees, South Sudanese communities, and host groups.

Opening Session: Setting the Tone

The programme began in the late morning with a warm welcome by representatives from the Sudanese Youth Network, Scenius Hub, the Vision Center for Legal Studies, the Commission for Refugees, the Executive Committee of Sudanese Refugees, and respected community leaders.

These opening remarks set the tone for the day: the acknowledgement of recent tensions, the recognition of shared struggles, and the reaffirmation of a vision where young people stand at the centre of peacebuilding. Speakers emphasised that the event was not just entertainment but part of a larger effort to build trust and nurture solidarity.

Cultural Performances: Celebrating Diversity

Immediately after the speeches, the stage came alive with cultural performances. Traditional groups from Sudan, South Sudan, and the Anyuak community showcased their rich heritage through songs and dances. Each performance carried a story—some recounting displacement and struggle, others celebrating resilience and identity.

The Gorom Camp community also brought forward their own artistic expressions: poetry recitals, choreographed dance, and displays of traditional attire. For the young children, a visual arts workshop ran in parallel, giving them space to draw, paint, and use creativity as a safe outlet for expressing both their struggles and their hopes.

These performances were more than art—they were bridges, connecting communities across borders and reminding everyone that culture is one of the strongest bonds of peace.

Recreational and Learning Activities: Engaging All Generations

The afternoon sessions were designed to cater to people of all ages.

• For the youth, light sports competitions, cultural contests, and group discussions encouraged both teamwork and friendly competition.

• For children, there were puzzles, drawing games, and other creative activities, which kept them joyfully engaged while learning values of cooperation and peace.

• For the elderly, wisdom took the stage. Heritage quizzes and the sharing of proverbs became tools to connect generations, as the younger participants listened, laughed, and learned.

Symbolic prizes were awarded at the end of these contests—reinforcing participation and togetherness rather than competition.

Football Match Finale: Unity in Action

The day closed with a highly anticipated football match between the Sudanese Refugee Team and the Scenius Hub Team. The match attracted the entire community, filling the sidelines with cheers, songs, and laughter.

Football, often called the world’s game, became here a symbol of unity and resilience. On the pitch, differences faded, replaced by teamwork, joy, and the collective spirit of community. The final whistle marked not just the end of a game but the successful conclusion of a day dedicated to solidarity.

Reflections and Impact

The Generational Vision campaign is built on the belief that young people are not just beneficiaries of peace but active shapers of it. At Gorom, this was evident in every session, performance, and activity. Youth were not only participants—they were organisers, facilitators, and leaders.

By combining cultural celebration with peace dialogue, the event showed that reconciliation can be rooted in creativity, sport, and storytelling. It also highlighted that even in the context of displacement, communities can cultivate joy, trust, and resilience.

The Sudanese Youth Network reaffirmed its commitment to peace, unity, and democratic transformation. Alongside its partners, it continues to demonstrate that when youth lead, communities thrive.

More than just a gathering, this was a vision in action: a new generation daring to imagine peace, building it in small but powerful ways, and carrying it forward for Sudan and South Sudan.