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UNESCO, in collaboration with the TVET line ministries from the National and State graduates 201 first cohort of youths who completed six (6) months of foundational, vocational skills training in six selected trades including, building and concrete practices, welding and metal fabrication, carpentry and joinery, electricity and solar installation, catering and hospitality, and agriculture/irrigation. 

The event held on 18 April 2024 brought together stakeholders from government institutions drawn from the relevant line ministries and representatives of women and youth associations, civil society organizations, faith-based organizations, the private sector, parents, guardians, and the general public. 

Alison Berma, the Acting State Minister of Education applauded UNESCO and its implementing partners for choosing to invest in the youth empowerment program in the Western Equatoria State. He underscored that the State has enormous potential that highly needs vocational skills to exploit it. He further challenged the graduates to put their acquired skills into good and appropriate use for improved livelihood opportunities, employability, self-employment, and self-reliance rather than allowing themselves to be exploited by some politicians to join armed groups and engage in negative coping mechanisms. He emphasized the need for the graduates including every citizen of the State to embrace agriculture, as the backbone of the country’s economy to enhance food production as the State has potential to become the breadbasket of South Sudan.  

Representing the Otto James emphasized the importance of transforming and empowering young people in South Sudan through skills training for improved livelihood opportunities, job creation and employment. 

Dr Tap Raj Pant UNESCO Chief of Education in South Sudan noted the need to change people’s perception of TVET highlighting its potential for quick wins to help unlock young people’s capabilities to “learn and earn” simultaneously. He assured that UNESCO, in collaboration with likeminded partners, both from the State and non-state actors, will continue to provide technical support and capacity building to the government of South Sudan to lay a foundation for a robust TVET system in the country. 

For his part, David Nangumba Finn Church Aid Head of Programmes, acknowledged the support of UNESCO, the Ad-hoc TVET coordination committee and the government of Western Equatoria in the implementation of the TVET project that has seen the successful pass out of these first cohort graduates.  He appreciated the TVET tutors and instructors for their commitment and dedication in preparing and equipping the graduates and encouraged them to keep up the excellent work in building a society that gears towards self-reliance. 

Viola Sasa, representative of the graduates in the field of electrical installation, thanked UNESCO and the partners for the opportunity given to them to take part in the vocational skills training program. “I see myself as the few luckiest female to acquire skills in a trade mainly perceived as a male dominated sector and I encourage my fellow young ladies out there to step out and take the opportunity for skills training to upscale their livelihoods with their male counterparts,” she said. 

This project is funded by Swedish International Agency (SIDA) through UNESCO and implemented in Western Equatoria State by Finn Church Aid (FCA).