New Report from ASPIRE: Endeavours for Peace for young South Sudanese Refugees in Uganda

ASPIRE aims to understand young people’s efforts for peaceful coexistence, their engagement with peers and communities, and interventions by political authorities and humanitarian, development and peace (HDP) actors over a period of 15 years.

This report builds on ethnographic data from South Sudanese living in Rhino Camp Refugee Settlement in Northern Uganda, primarily collected in September and October 2023. The report suggests that these ‘endeavours for peace’ should be examined from the perspective of the young people as acting subjects dealing with the current conditions within Rhino Camp.

The endeavours we have explored in this period are attempts to spot incipient conflicts on the rise and de-escalate them. The research underscores the centrally important interconnection of generations when it comes to conflict and peace at community level.

This raises the question of whether future research should focus exclusively on endeavours undertaken by young people or whether the challenge is to examine the ways in which youth fit into the larger picture of peace endeavours.

The report concludes with a discussion of questions to be explored for further research, opportunities as we see them and feedback from the refugee community on the findings.  

The report has been launched in the field for donors, stakeholders and refugees during November and December 2023.