Fears of a second lost generation amid South Sudan conflict

SALLY SARA, REPORTER: Every Sunday young people raise their voices in the isolated town of Kapoeta. But beyond the harmonies there is little to celebrate out here. Education is scarce and opportunities are few. The cost of another uneducated generation in South Sudan is high.

PETER WALSH, COUNTRY DIRECTOR, SAVE THE CHILDREN: It's priceless, let's be honest. We've got 1.7 million children that are out of school. That means the children, the future of South Sudan are just not learning. And we talk about children have been in our school for several months or a year and in South Sudan we're talking about a second generation. Following the conflicts in Sudan where we spoke about this lost generation and never had the opportunity to learn. Unfortunately it's happening all over again in South Sudan.

SALLY SARA: South Sudan gained its independence in 2011 with a great deal of optimism. But bitter power struggles and ethnic tensions have torn the country apart.

FATHER TIM GALVIN: I think, I think there should bow a change of leadership, really. I think there should be a change of leadership if it's possible. But nobody wants to give up leadership. I think there has to be new leaders in this country to try and start again. New leaders. Whether it is possible or not I do not know.

SALLY SARA: Catholic priest Father Tim Galvin, arrived in Kapoeta more than 30 years ago.

Many of the children in his parish are so poor they barely get enough to eat.

FATHER TIM GALVIN: It is very difficult. If children are hungry, in the classroom, in the lesson they're falling asleep. They're not paying attention at all because their stomach is crying out for something. It's very difficult for them to learn when they have no food.

SALLY SARA: These students are the lucky ones. More than 70 per cent of South Sudan's children have never set foot in a classroom and up to a third of the teachers are unqualified.

PRAXIDES NYONGGESA, TEACHER: I'm very much worried because their future is difficult and through these kids will go to school and if they have chance of going to school we're going to get great leaders from them. I'm worried because they're not going to school. They are being misused, let me say wasted.

SALLY SARA: Nineteen year old Lokai Lululae, stopped going to school when he was nine. Now he spends his days herding goats with an AK-47.

LOKAI LULULAE, GOAT HERDER: (TRANSLATION) I carry this gun for protection when we take animals for grazing, it protects animals from raiders and hyenas.

SALLY SARA: More than two third of South Sudan's population is under the age of 30. But the future is in the hands of older political leaders who are entrenched in conflict.

LOKAI LULULAE: (TRANSLATION) I wish the two parties could come together and reconcile. I also wish that the rains would come and people would harvest.

SALLY SARA: For now, many young people are just trying to survive. Almost five million people in South Sudan don't have enough to eat, more than 1.5 million have fled.

The situation is so bad that many parents have sent their children to school or refugee camps in neighbouring countries such as Kenya or Uganda.

But for the young people left behind the future is bleak. The south Sudanese Government has failed to turn the hope of independence into prosperity and stability.

Now some youngsters spend their time simply trying to find something to feed their family. Any way they can. Dreams of something better are on hold.

LOKAI LULULAE: (TRANSLATION) I wish to get married and have children. I want to have my own homestead and live there with my family and animals.

SALLY SARA: But peace and security are still a long way off in South Sudan. And it's young people who are bearing the consequences.