Vocational skills students graduate in Kapoeta East county

By Ijoo Bosco

May 24 2014 (TORIT) – One hundred and thirty-three students graduated on Friday in Eastern Equatoria’s Kapoeta East county after completing a five-month vocational skills program.

The students received training in the fields of tailoring, auto mechanics and entrepreneurship at the Kapoeta East women’s centre.

In total about 57 female students graduated in tailoring, 38 males in auto mechanics, while 13 males and 37 females graduated in entrepreneurship.

The Vocational Training Project, which targets the three counties of Kapoeta South, East and Budi, was implemented by Plan South Sudan with support from UNICEF South Sudan and Plan Canada.

Plan project manager Charles Abugo told Sudan Tribune that the project aimed to equip students with real life skills that they can use to earn a living.

He said the training also helped empower young men and women to lift themselves out of poverty and improve their quality of life.

Kapoeta East county commissioner Titos Lokwachuma said the training program is particularly important as it provides young people with the skills to become self-reliant by opening their own workshops and businesses.

Last month, the first batch of 143 students graduated from Kapoeta South county. The three-month pilot project is expected to end this year but Abugo said discussions are still ongoing on a possible extension of the training program.

(ST)