By Baraka John
Yambio, South Sudan – At just 16 years old, Beyo David George has already lived through more than most people endure in a lifetime. A former child soldier from Yambio County in Western Equatoria State, David is now determined to forge a new path—and he’s appealing for sponsorship to study civil engineering and electrical work.
David was forcefully conscripted into an armed rebel group during two waves of inter-communal conflict in Tombura. After his demobilization, he found a lifeline through the Save Lives Initiative – South Sudan, a national NGO focused on child protection and rehabilitation.
With the organization’s support, David and 27 other vulnerable children were enrolled in a vocational training center in Yambio. There, he excelled in construction and electrical wiring, completing the program with distinction. His crowning achievement was designing and fully wiring a model flat house—a testament to both his creativity and technical skills.
“I am ready to go to school to chase my dream, but I need sponsorship,” David said. “There are many young people with talent who just need someone to believe in them. I hope someone hears my voice.”
According to Mr. Alex Baptist Futupai, Senior Program Coordinator for Save Lives Initiative in Yambio, David is one of the most committed and talented youths the program has encountered.
“He is passionate, disciplined, and has great potential,” said Futupai. “David truly stands out for his dedication to learning and building a better future.”
Save Lives Initiative partners with the State Ministry of Child and Social Welfare to identify and support children who have been disassociated from armed groups. The organization provides psychological support for those affected by trauma, including stigma, sexual exploitation, and violence. Once stabilized, the children are enrolled in youth and adolescent programs to support social reintegration, followed by vocational training in fields such as carpentry, tailoring, metalwork, and construction.
“We follow a case management system with a focus on children associated with armed forces and armed groups (CAAFG),” Futupai explained. “The first step is psychosocial support, followed by socialization programs, and then technical vocational training to help them reintegrate and become self-reliant.”
Western Equatoria remains one of the South Sudanese states most deeply scarred by the use of child soldiers—a dark legacy of the country’s prolonged conflicts. Children like David were often targeted by armed groups due to their vulnerability and obedience, and many suffered extreme violence and trauma.
While efforts to demobilize and rehabilitate these children are showing results, access to continued education remains a major hurdle. For David, a scholarship represents more than financial support—it is the key to rebuilding his life and becoming a symbol of resilience and hope in a community still healing from war.