Twelve former gang members, including five girls, have left gangs and joined the Vision Youth Group in Bentiu camp for displaced people, according to Elizabeth Nyayien Gatwech Pur, a Recovery, Return and Reintegration Officer with the United Nations Mission in South Sudan. Many youth had turned to gangs after years of poverty, unemployment, and disrupted education, seeking belonging, identity, protection, and survival. The former members now draw on their experiences to contribute positively to their community and help keep it safe. One former member, James (not his real name), said they now understand that respect comes from community contribution rather than gang affiliation.
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