Pupils at JCC Negil Primary School on Gondokoro Island are using debates to raise awareness about the risks of child marriage and encourage children to stay in school as South Sudan seeks to curb the practice.
The debate, held on Friday in Nyaing, was organised with support from Women Foundation for Humanity under the topic, “Early child marriage should stop.”
Amos Abiria John, programme manager at Women Foundation for Humanity, said the activity aimed to help pupils understand how to prevent sexual and gender-based violence and share what they learned with their peers, families and communities.
“Through debate, we are trying to make sure they don’t forget what they have discussed by themselves,” Abiria said.
He said the topic was chosen by pupils from three proposed subjects after adolescent girls raised concerns about sexual harassment, child marriage and unequal access to education.
“During the life-skills training, they said there was too much sexual harassment and there are early marriages, while parents are neglecting to send more girls to school,” he said.
The initiative also seeks to promote equal opportunities for boys and girls to remain in school and pursue their education, Abiria said.
James Ladu Joseph, the school’s director of studies, said the pupils’ participation showed the value of engaging students in discussions about issues affecting them.
The debate is part of broader efforts to strengthen awareness and prevention of sexual and gender-based violence among children and adolescents on Gondokoro Island.
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