Hon. Pia Philip Michael, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Peace Building, participating - Credit: Moses Awan/Eye Radio

The Undersecretary in the National Ministry of Peacebuilding, Pia Philip, has called on young women across South Sudan to prioritize education, seek leadership roles, and actively contribute to their households and communities to earn respect, build stable families, and advance national development.

Speaking during a Youth and Young Women Leadership Workshop in Juba, Mr. Philip urged participants to continuously build their personal capacity and social standing.

Addressing the risk of dependency within marriages, the Undersecretary stressed that active participation and self-reliance safeguard a woman’s status:

“Let me also tell the young women here, you know the secret of life? If you are doing nothing at home, and you are just a wife, you can easily be divorced. You are, eh? It’s just like a cigarette… kede jada sijara…” Pia told young women at the workshop in Juba.

Highlighting the transformative power of education, public engagement, and civic leadership, Mr. Philip pointed out how personal achievements enhance a woman’s value within her family and community:

“When you are a young woman, you have told us that you have become famous in Wau. Your husband can hear you speaking on the radio. You are there campaigning to be an MP. You have gone to school,” Pia said.

“You have become famous in the village, in your county. Which man would want to leave this type of wife? Nobody, you can see. So you have built, you have added value to your life. This value should remain with you forever.”

He further contrasted the vulnerability of uneducated, non-contributing spouses with the security earned by emerging female leaders.

“Women who are easily divorced are those who are not contributing anything home. They are not educated. They are not even valued in society. But women like you, my young women, you have added more value. You have become famous. You are becoming leaders. And you are just at the door of becoming leaders of South Sudan. I’m sure those of you already married, nobody is going to joke your marriage. It is already cemented. So keep it up,” he stated.

The Peacebuilding official challenged the participants to pass on their knowledge through grassroots mentorship, beginning within their own households

“Start this training in your community, in your family. Mentorship. It does not mean you should first have an office. But start with your family mentoring there, with your siblings. Let the knowledge grow. And let the South Sudan we need be realized,” Pia concluded.