Reintegration and empowerment project launches in Yambio
June 15 (YAMBIO) – A reintegration project targeting conflict affected communities has been launched in Yambio by the governor of the newly created Gbudue state. The three-year project, supported by UNICEF, targets women, children and youth who have been demobilized from the armed groups operating in Western Equatoria state.
Governor Patrick Zamoi said the youth and community in general will be empowered with skills on peace building; while the returning armed youth will be provided with vocational training to enable them earn money to sustain their families.
“We really completely forget about vocational schools to provide skills to our people and we had been so busy with IT as the computer come as new way to us but not vocational training. We need to provide skills to these people so that they will be in position to provide jobs for themselves and take care of their families,” Governor Zamoi said.
He also said Boda-boda [motor bikes business] cannot lead the youth anywhere, saying it is the obligation of the government with the partners from the international non-governmental organizations to find the best solution to the youth who are idle and creating problems in the state.
Following the signing of peace agreement between the government and the South Sudan National Liberation Movement (SSNLM) on 2 April, 2016, in Yambio, the government through its relevant structures has embarked on peace building and reintegration activities as an effort to restore hope, peace and security of the conflict affected people.
State minister of education, gender, child and social welfare, Pia Philip, said his ministry will champion the three years project, adding it has secured funds from UNICEF to organize workshops on conflict resolution and peace building in the five counties of Gbudue state.
Pia stated that the objective of the project is to create conducive environment for the proper reintegration into the society of the children, youth and women associated with conflict.
“The stakeholders need to understand the different paradigms of conflict, acceptance and forgiveness, forge a local mechanism of managing conflict at the Payam levels,” he said.
He added that realities for the youth are changing including the loss of traditional livelihoods and widespread urbanization.
Jobs are being created in urban areas but these are offered to foreigners who have the requisite skills.
“With no jobs or skills, he added, the marginalized youth choose violence and that means coming together based on shared tribal and political interests and poverty also contribute to the conflict [and] gangs on the roads in South Sudan,” he said.
The opening ceremony started with a three-day workshop which drew participants from various payams in Yambio county. The project will be extended to other counties and in schools to inculcate peace into the community and youth in particular.
(ST)