Prior to joining the Peacebuilding Institute, I was quite timid. I had a timidity that would often hinder me from engaging with my fellow participants who I would see on a day to day basis. Though I was there to grow my knowledge, my timidity often led me to have a lack of understanding towards the multidimensional roles that these youths could play in their communities. My engagements at the time were primarily focused on youth groups who oncer were ex-combatants and victims respectively. This meant that outside of my scope of thinking, I was finding it difficult to have a point of connection with my peers.

As my time at PBI progressed I slowly came to have a deeper understanding of what peace building was, and more so how to effectively carry out peacebuilding activities. I was introduced to a variety of concepts and organizations, including religious/faith-based organizations and women’s organizations that have an immense impact on communities. Since my time back home after the PBI Workshop, I started implementing more inclusivity in the programs and projects I was working on. I started by involving religious organizations and women’s organizations, and the results from this were astounding. These organizations took the lead in disseminating the message of peace within their congregations, and this opened the floor for more open, honest and eager conversations to be had. Not only was I able to communicate the importance of peace, but I could tangibly see the effects of the skills I acquired in the PBI Workshop but I was able to also see how these skills were being poured out into my community in a developmental manner.

The PBI Workshop changed me. It unleashed the confidence and zeal in me that would aid my goal of impacting my community in a variety of peace building activities. Without the skills and engagements I had, I would not have been able to present my recommendations on tackling youth and violent extremism eloquently, during a high level ministerial conference on regional Youth, Peace and Security in Nairobi Kenya, organized by the African Union. To this day, I am still utilizing many of the skills and inputs that the PBI Workshop entrusted me with as a young leader and peace agent within my community. I cannot find sufficive words to thank the Peacebuilding Institute for openly equipping me with the right knowledge, experiences and engagements which were and continue to be an added value in my life.

This, this is the PBI Impact.

By: Kak Ruot Wakow Wan from South Sudan (2021 Regional PBI)