Ten-year-old Rebecca and Saraha were born just as their country was celebrating its independence. The creation of the world’s youngest nation on 9 July 2011 after decades of unrest was marked with joyful festivity – it was a historic moment and the world hoped that this new nation would finally know peace, freedom, social justice and democracy.

We spoke to the two girls to find out what their lives are like as the first-born South Sudanese citizens and how the conflict has affected their lives. “People fight and forget themselves. Only a few families living here have a good life. We want a safe and good environment with no fighting, no conflict so that we can go to school and get a good education every day," says Rebecca.