The road is there, if you’re willing to walk it

When we talk about commitment to peace, sometimes it sounds abstract. But for three women from the remote community of Motot, commitment was not just a concept. It was a physical journey, one that spanned days, tested their strength, and ultimately brought them face-to-face with sixty other women from three communities. All these women have a history of conflict and are determined to write new chapters in the story of their communities.

A Journey of Determination

When the women from Motot received the news that they had been selected to attend the Women’s Conference in Juba: Building Peace Across Jonglei and Greater Pibor Administrator Area (GPAA), they were excited and knew they had to go.

But logistics in South Sudan, especially during the rainy season, are rarely simple. At first, the flight booked for them from Motot was cancelled. The nearest place to get the earliest flight to Juba was Pieri, a few hours of walk from Motot. Without delay, and with the accompaniment of youth from the area, the three women set out on foot, trekking a long, difficult road to reach Pieri in time for a flight that would carry them to Juba. However, when they finally arrived, exhausted but hopeful, they were hit with deflating news: the flight from Pieri had been cancelled. The only available flight was now, ironically, back in Motot. Where many might have given up, these women turned around and walked all the way back.

It was a journey fueled by something greater than obligation. They weren’t just trying to attend a conference; they were carrying the voices, struggles, and hopes of their communities with them.

A triumphant arrival

They finally reached Juba on the third day of the conference, joining women from Murle, Dinka, and Nuer communities, each a leader in her own right. Despite missing the first two days, their presence brought admiration.

They had walked for peace; literally. Their story captured the very spirit of the conference: that peace is not just the absence of violence, but the presence of commitment, co-existence, and hard work. These women didn’t come just to listen. They came to contribute, to collaborate, and to commit. Their determination was a testimony to the power of women's leadership and their vital role in peacebuilding.

The challenging peace ecosystem and the reflection on the Journey.

While this story captures the formidable determination of these three women, it also evokes reflections:

• The challenging environment in which peace promoters operate in: often constrained by logistic impediments, environmental challenges, and security concerns. It makes access, as well as following strict timelines, quite challenging. Hence the need for flexibility in approach throughout programing.

• The conversation on sustainability and community contribution, what does it mean, how does it look like in practice? Often the contribution of the communities in different locations is not in monetary value, but rather in their communities’ in-kind commitments to efforts that aim at fostering peace. Is that often viewed as a valuable contribution of communities? Could that be an entry point for more conversation on understanding and mapping some of the valuable things that the communities can contribute? Could that be seen as a sign that communities will sustain their commitment beyond the presence of humanitarian actors?   

• Shifting gender norms, in a culturally restrictive area like Motot, the ability of these women to make the decision to walk to Motot and be out of their families for days at a time also indicates a progressive attitude towards role of women in leadership, not only amongst the communities but amongst women themselves. One of the Bridges of Peace (BOP) modules focus on conversations around the role of ‘Women as advocates for Peace’, a conversational session that usually brings to light roles, the strengths and the resources available amongst women to contribute to building peace at all levels.

Peace is an action.

The story of these three women is more than a tale of physical endurance. It is a challenge for all of us. What are we willing to do for peace? How far would we go to make sure we are part of the solution?

These women walked for days, through uncertainty, mud, fatigue, and setback, just to make sure their communities had a voice in a process that could shape the future.

They didn’t come late. They came right on time and reminded everyone in the room that peace is not a destination. It’s a journey. Sometimes, that journey begins with a single step. And sometimes, with a very long walk.