South Sudan is Africa’s youngest nation. It has been mired in violent conflict for several decades, continuing even after gaining independence from Sudan in 2011.

I am Angelina Ayen Majak. I am 22 years old. I am South Sudanese. I am a young woman who has great passion to bring hope and lead South Sudan into a bright future.

I graduated from Loreto Rumbek Girls’ Secondary School, and I have been inspired by the maxim of my school, “women of courage.” It was a privilege to study there as there are very few good secondary schools in South Sudan where only 1.3% of girls remain in school by the time they reach the age of 16.

Being a woman of courage, I joined an intensive course in basic solar water pump installation and maintenance and livelihood business skills at the Jesuit-run St Peter Claver Ecological Training Centre in Rumbek. In South Sudan, women are discouraged from taking courses that are seen to be fit for men only. It was a challenging academic task, but through the course, I realized that I am capable of doing what men do. I was not worried about what the men would say about me. I finished the course last June and the training empowered me to work confidently on solar water pumps, solar panels, batteries, network connections, etc. Now I can make a positive contribution to the community.

Life is difficult in South Sudan. I live in a country where government services and social welfare are severely lacking; the average inflation rate for the past 3 years has been 58%; and 2.2 million children, mostly girls, are out of school. There is gender inequality, lack of freedom of expression, hunger, inter-communal conflicts, displacement and migration.

Together with other youth, I dream of a South Sudan with peace and harmony and the capacity to rebuild the infrastructure destroyed by continuous wars. We dream of a country that practices political fairness and sound economics. We hope for a more just world where everyone can learn to read and write regardless of gender; where work opportunities abound; and where people earn fair wages.

Youth play a crucial role in making this happen. We need to be involved in political and cultural change. By serving in government, we can promote rights for all and hold veteran members of parliament accountable for their actions. We can lead in using online and digital platforms to nurture and advance interaction, education and cultural diversity. I encourage my fellow youth to volunteer: as teachers, as sports ambassadors and as advocates for our cultural and traditional beliefs.

In my country, one needs to have strong will power, courage and determination to succeed. Through my example and the work that I do, I hope to inspire and empower other youth. In fostering an environment that allows youth to reach for their own hopes and dreams, we enable them to change the world.