E. Equatoria holds youth conference to improve community relations
By Bosco Ijjo
June 19, 2013 (TORIT) – An Eastern Equatoria state youth and peace conference began in the capital,Torit on Wednesday bringing together youth from all the eight counties to discuss and identify key priorities of the state.
By the end of the first day, the meeting had raised more than 20 issues affecting progress of the state, but only six issues were voted as priorities.
Cattle raiding received the most votes (40), followed by high rates of unemployment, youth affiliation with political interference, insecurity, poor relationships and the gap between the youth and decision makers and finally a lack of vocational training.
The facilitator of the conference, Musa Fataki, told the youth to discuss the causes of the problems and find solutions to the issues by working to find realistic and specific resolutions to the challenges discussed.
The youth peace conference is being held under the theme, “Unity in Diversity”, drawing participants from the eight counties of the state to advocate for peace unity and development in South Sudan state.
The five-day youth peace conference is being organised by the state ministry of social development, the United Nations and other local partners.
Eastern Equatoria’s deputy governor, Jerome Gama Surur, hailed the conference organisers and their partners for initiating a mechanism seeking to reduce tribalism practices among the youth.
Gama urged the youth in the state to be united and to stop indulging themselves in spreading false information about its government through the use of internet to tarnished its performance to the outside world.
He also urged them not to remain involved in cattle raiding and banditry, but to participate in productive industries and join hands with its government in delivery of services.
The conference in Torit is due to end on Friday with a plenary discussion to draft and finalise a resolution to help guide and promote peace and unity among the divided youth of the state.
(ST)