Peace and empowerment through Boruboru

Help a Child South Sudan organized a 30-day ‘Peace and Back to School Campaign’ from 29th October to 28th November 2024 as part of the EU-funded UNICEF Education in Emergency (EiE) Project. The campaign, titled ‘Strengthening Access to Education in Wau County, Western Bahr El Ghazal State,’ aimed to promote peace, stability, and livelihoods within communities while encouraging youth, especially girls, to return to school in 2025.

A key component of this campaign was the use of Boruboru, a traditional South Sudanese dodgeball game that was professionalized for modern sports. This adaptation allowed the sport to become a powerful tool for community mobilization, blending physical activity with social advocacy. It was tailored to promote peace and the rights of women and girls through the integration of community engagement, speeches by key government officials, local authorities, and representatives from civil society organizations (CSOs).

The competition provided a platform for girls to showcase their talents, a significant step in challenging traditional gender roles and empowering girls. It also addressed the need for gender equality and inclusiveness in education, in line with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4, which emphasizes the right to education for all children, regardless of gender, ethnicity, or physical ability.

The success of Boruboru has attracted attention and admiration from Help a Child’s sister organizations in other countries, including Rwanda, Burundi, Kenya, Malawi, DRC, and Uganda. Through an exchange and learning program, these offices shared different approaches to social engagement and education, with Boruboru becoming a standout model for empowering girls and bridging social gaps. It has also gained recognition from the Ministry of Youth, Culture, and Sport in South Sudan, with discussions about making it one of the country’s unique sports.

Boruboru is becoming a standout model for empowering girls and bridging social gaps

Empowering girls
In conclusion, the Boruboru-based campaign not only achieved its goal of promoting peace and education but also contributed to the larger effort of empowering girls, challenging harmful cultural practices, and fostering a culture of inclusivity and equality.
Through sports, Help a Child South Sudan has made significant strides in both social engagement and education, helping to ensure that all children, particularly girls, have access to education and opportunities for growth.

For Help a Child South Sudan, this campaign has reinforced the importance of creating a holistic approach to education – one that goes beyond the classroom and encompasses the values of peace, safety, and equality. By implementing such initiatives, Help a Child aims to not only help children return to school but also ensure that they can thrive in an environment that nurtures their potential.

Moving forward, Help a Child South Sudan remains committed to strengthening these efforts and building on the momentum generated by the campaign, ensuring that every child in South Sudan has the opportunity to grow, learn, and contribute to the future of their communities.