Amazing Grace High School has been crowned champions of the second edition of the Interschool Sports for Peace competition, organized by Mission Empowering Africa.
Students from nine schools, six from Jonglei and three from Central Equatorial, participated in various athletic events, including the high jump and shot put, showcasing their talents throughout the competition.
The school was officially declared the winner from Jonglei State on Wednesday afternoon during the announcement of results.
However, Venus International Secondary School from Juba, was the overall winner.
Additionally, Amazing Grace High School won the Best Male Team award, while Baidit Girls’ School was recognized as the Best Female Team.
Philip Chol Malaak, Executive Director of Mission Empowering Africa, stated that his organization has identified more than 30 promising athletes who have the potential to represent Jonglei State in future competitions.
“Of course the winners from Jonglei State are Amazing Grace High School while Venus International School were the overall winners from Central Equatorial State. This is not the end. The the 40 athletes will continue to train and represent the state in future competitions,” He stated.
David Akol, Manager of Digitel South Sudan’s Bor Branch, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to supporting sports initiatives that unite students and promote peace.
“I feel happy and at home when I see the children of South Sudan and Jonglei playing together without any discrimination which tribe or wherever you came from. This is what we need and Digitel is a pure South Sudanese Company and that is why we came up with the ideas of supporting ourselves starting with the young generation,”. He pointed out.
Agol Panchol, teacher’s representative highlighted the importance of sports in promoting peaceful cohension among the young people.
“War is not the solution but when we come together for recreation or sports as students from different schools peace will prevail. I urge the governor of Jonglei State to empathize sports activities to promote peace. Jonglei will not cultivate peace when we don’t come together,” Agol said.
Meanwhile, Jonglei State Education Minister Gordon Koang Bar urged students to stay away from violence and use sports as a means of fostering unity and discipline.
“Love yourself so that we all have a permanent and comphrenive peace. If we start fighting each other, it means you don’t have peace within you. I hope if not all of you, many of you are Christians and big number of you are choir in churches. Can a choir in the church fight another choir? It’s something that disappoints, take it upon yourself. Take a Look at the picture it is a very bad image for us and to have peace we need to love ourselves,” Minister Gordon made the remarks following a dispute among the students during the sport event.
As part of the event’s conclusion, teachers from St. Andrew Secondary School defeated their counterparts from Royal High School in a thrilling 4-0 match.
Furthermore, St Andrew Secondary School students’ team also emerged victorious after defeating their counterpart Royal High School 2:0.
Jonglei State Governor Dr. Riek Gai Kok pledged his support for the athletes who will represent the state in an upcoming competition in Torit.
The event was organized in collaboration with Digitel South Sudan, ZOA Dorcas, Lifeline, the State Ministry of Culture, Youth, and Sports, and the Ministry of Education.
