30 youth trained on conflict management skills in Yambio

January 3, 2016 (YAMBIO) – 30 youth drawn from the five payams of Yambio in South Sudan’s Gbudue state have been trained on good governance and conflict resolution.

A local based entity known as Community Empowerment for Rehabilitation and Development Organisation, (CEFORD) has organised the three-day workshop, which reportedly intends to equip youth with skills on conflict management.

CEFORD’s project manager, Valentino Asienzo, said Yambio was chosen as the venue for the workshop owing to recent experiences of conflict and between local youth and the army, which saw nearly a dozen people killed.

“Youth have been involved in some conflict and organise themselves into groups and enter the bush in parts of former Western Equatoria state saying they are demanding their rights or to find solutions to their problems, but through dialogue a peaceful resolution can reached not fighting,” said Asienzo.

CEFORD has, in the past, organised such trainings in Ibba county to 30 youth on conflict management and has been operating in some counties in greater Western Equatoria to bring the youth and civil society groups together, training them on how to manage and find solutions to conflicts.

Some of the youth said the absence of schools in their areas makes them very idle.

James Kubako, a participant, vowed to convince county authorities to establish schools that would help absorb majority of the youth and keep them busy.

The youth and the country’s armed forces were often involved in fierce battles in various parts of Western Equatoria state, a situation worsened by the 21-months long conflict.

(ST)