70 complete digital innovation skills courses in South Sudan
February 19, 2023 (JUBA) – A total of 70 students have successfully completed three-month certificate courses under the Digital Innovation and Skills (DISH) program implemented by Community Empowerment for Progress organization (CEPO) in South Sudan.
Supported by the Netherlands government, DISH is an e-learning platform developed to provide access to youth and women to develop employment skills.
Each three month course, which included Peace building, Teacher Training, Business Administration and Information, Communication Technologies (ICT) were specifically designed to provide a certificate to students at pre-university level.
Speaking at the graduation ceremony, CEPO’s Operations Manager, Mori Misak said the organization strives to empower community members to be self-reliant.
“CEPO is an institution that focuses on a better and balanced society. To realize such a society requires well trained personnel. We expect you to go and practice the knowledge and skills gained from the various courses,” he explained.
Peter Bidali Elias, the Program Lead at CEPO, said the certificate courses mainly targeted youth and women particularly impacted on by the Covid-19 pandemic.
“The objective of DISH is to increase enrolment in certificate education in order to increase employment possibilities. Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, youth and women face challenges to find employment,” he stated.
Bidali cited lack of gadgets and poor connectively as challenges to the program.
He said plans are underway for inclusive education for persons with disabilities.
For his part, Kennedy Khamis, a Business Administration graduate, thanked the donors for supporting CEPO’s efforts to successfully run the DISH training program.
“CEPO has planted good seeds that will yield good fruits for the nation. We appeal to donors to continue supporting the continuity of the program,” he said.
The DISH platform was established with partners in Somalia, Sudan, South Sudan, Ethiopia, Uganda and the Netherlands to implement two projects funded under the Orange Knowledge Programme managed by Nuffic and funded by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The projects contribute to peace building, employment for vulnerable youth and women, and strengthening resilience.
(ST)