Book excerpt: "South Sudan gained its independence on July 9, 2011. Since its independence, South Sudan has been the topic of many discussions surrounding the international community in regards to how the country will rebuild and reconcile its cultural and historical differences. Although there are many sources that discuss South Sudan's struggle with their national identity, and the new education reforms in South Sudan, there are no current sources that discuss the effects of national and cultural identity through the use of education in South Sudan. USAID, UNICEF, UNESCO, and the UN's strategies for rebuilding the nation through educational programs are all evaluated in this thesis. Ernest Gellner's theory on nationalism, local news articles, and official government reports on the progression of education in South Sudan and its identity, including various other theorists on national identity will serve as the methodology used. The objective of this research is to shed light on the current situation in South Sudan, and to create possible solutions and understanding as to why it is so important that South Sudan not only educate its people, but bring its people together through an official national identity that does not clash with South Sudan's current tribal society. Without an established national identity, the country will be in a constant state of conflict. If the people of South Sudan do not address its problems of the past, its history of ethnic-targeted violence and genocide, then the country will have ongoing internal civil war. Establishing a national identity in South Sudan is the key to its own survival. It can be argued that the best strategy to enforce this national identity is in the classroom and through educational programs. An identity is about a sense of self, and answers the question of "who am I?" If the South Sudanese people cannot come together and find common ground on what makes them the same, instead of what separates them, then the country will stay divided, stay in a state of conflict, and will never rebuild. A country that is divided cannot prosper".