Bright Hope Secondary School defeated Alliance Secondary School, Mundri, 2-1 in an inter-school football competition match at Baya Grounds in Mundri West County, Western Equatoria State.
The tournament, organized by the Evangelical Youth Climate Action and Poverty Reduction Organization (EYCA-PRO), drew over 500 spectators and aimed to promote youth involvement in environmental protection and peacebuilding.
The event on Friday served as a platform to educate young people and community members about the growing threats of climate change and the importance of peaceful coexistence in post-conflict areas like Mundri.
“We have always played football, but today we learned how this game can advocate for the environment and peace in our community,” said James, a student from Bright Hope Secondary School.
“We are not just playing football,” said Grace, the student leader of Alliance Secondary. “We are playing for the future of Mundri.”
Before kickoff, EYCA-PRO facilitators held awareness sessions highlighting the causes and effects of climate change, particularly deforestation and flooding, which have increasingly impacted the region. The discussions also emphasized teamwork, community harmony, and youth participation in environmental conservation.
“Our goal is to turn every young person into an agent of peace and climate action,” said Aku Oloni, one of the event organizers and an EYCA-PRO representative. “Football is something our youth love, and we are using that passion to promote tree planting, waste management, and peaceful living,” Oloni added.
Colorful banners with messages such as “Play for Peace, Act for Climate” and “Together for a Greener, Peaceful Mundri” surrounded the field, blending sportsmanship with activism.
Religious and community leaders attending the match voiced strong support for the initiative.
“I thank EYCA-PRO for empowering our youth,” said Rev. Peter Nason, a local church leader. “These kinds of programs reduce violence and give our children purpose. We need more of this.”
The event united young people from different communities, some of whom had previously experienced tensions. Organizers said the day marked progress in fostering lasting peace and environmental stewardship among the youth.
“We want to take this initiative to every corner of Mundri,” said Noah Philip, EYCA-PRO’s field coordinator. “Our vision is to establish climate clubs in schools, promote tree-planting campaigns, and expand football-for-peace programs even to rural primary schools.”
EYCA-PRO called on donors to support the expansion of its programs, which include youth-led climate and peace clubs, green school initiatives, tree-planting drives, football-for-peace tournaments in rural payams, and the development of local climate education toolkits.