UNESCO has developed a Skills for Life curriculum with the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology and Education Cluster partners.

Teaching and learning materials provide lessons on psychosocial support, peace education, protection and life skills. Combined with temporary learning spaces and education- in-emergencies supplies, this project is reaching more than 34,000 students and educators in South Sudan.

The materials are being translated into Arabic and are also being provided to South Sudanese refugees in neighbouring countries, as well as other displaced groups in the region. The project was funded by the UN Common Humanitarian Fund.

South Sudan has a population on 8.2 million, of whom 72 per cent are less than 30 years of age.

Working with The Whitaker Peace and Development Initiative (founded by UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador Forest Whitaker), we have established a network of youth engaged in conflict mediation and peace building who are keen to promote the benefits of alternatives to fighting. Eventually, we want to ensure that the network has a representative from every county in each of South Sudan’s 10 states. The programme provides capacity development workshops and long-term support, including peer-to-peer learning activities and training in computer and technology skills.

Our emergency activities address needs in both conflict and other areas. In Jonglei, in February/March 2014, our team followed up 22 young men and women trained 12 months earlier in peace development and computer skills. Due to insecurity, we are now focusing on introducing our program to Eastern Equatoria. Our team visited the region in March 2014 and selected 16 young people from different counties in the state who will be trained to roll out the program. This strengthens our youth networks as we steadily move around the country to develop the full Youth Peacemakers Network.

Watch video: After the December 2013 tragical events, Forest Whitaker calls youth for Peace and Reconciliation

The pilot Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR) programme began in 2012 and there are plans to continue once the current conflict has subsided. The programme is run by the UN Mission in South Sudan.

UNESCO developed a comprehensive curriculum for training former combatants and provided three months intensive training in literacy, English, numeracy, life skills, psycho-social support and vocational skills for 1,500 people in Western Bahr el Ghazal.