More and more refugees and IDPs are returning to Yei River county, where they may gather for sports and cultural events, as well as peace talks and discussions, thanks to the Revitalized Calm Agreement of 2018, which has returned relative peace to Yei River.
One might infer that this group really hopes that its efforts will help to the establishment of a permanent and inclusive peace.
A perimeter wall was immediately erected around Yei Freedom Square’s local football field by the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) after they were made aware of their needs.
The peacekeepers’ work was far from done. Men’s and women’s bathrooms were built near the pitch, as well as six permanent locker rooms for football players.
Quick Impact Projects (QIP) are small-scale, low-budget initiatives designed to meet immediate community needs that are funded by the UN Peacekeeping mission.
UNMISS Protection, Transition, and Reintegration Office Lauro Ohiyu, who worked in Central Equatoria state, remembers the initiative and its impact.
“We all know the power of sports in enhancing team spirit, unity in diversity and peacebuilding,” revealed Lauro.
“Promoting reconciliation and coexistence across South Sudan as it prepares for elections is an important objective for UNMISS and I believe that, with this project, we have managed to achieve that end in a very concrete way,” he continues.
“We managed to create a secure space for youth and the larger community to congregate, be it for a football tournament, a community dialogue, or a cultural event. When communities come together it helps promote peace, forgiveness, and reconciliation, thereby encouraging more returns.”
John Kenyi Santino, Secretary of Yei Local Football Association (YLFA) echoed Lauro’s sentiment.
“Once you enter a stadium to watch a game, you become part of one big, happy family. We know no race, colour, or region here – you only come to cheer your team on, be happy and heal trauma caused by years of conflict,” said Mr. Santino passionately.
Local sportspersons faced hard times before UNMISS stepped in to support them.
“People were using the pitch as a walkway; even during games, people were riding bicycles and motorbikes across the field,” revealed Mr Santino.
Thanks to UNMISS, a solution has been found: “We now screen fans at the gate and refuse access to anybody carrying weapons to ensure safety for players and spectators alike,” he added.
“Improving the standard of football also means improving talents of players, and the more their talents are developed, they stand to gain better chances of becoming international sportspeople,” said James Yata Ambrose, Secretary of the Yei United Football Club.
Mr. Santino agreed. “Sports make good business sense and is a viable career option for young people,” he stated. “Once we have a sustainable peace, we must make every effort to develop our athletes,” he averred.
The Yei Football Association is made up of 24 football clubs from various ethnic groups and areas around the country, including Equatoria, Upper Nile, and Bahr El-Ghazal.
Last year, local implementing partner Community Empowerment for Progress Organization, CEPO, lead the project.