Building up livelihood skills
World Vision South Sudan’s Juba Area Rehabilitation Programme (JARP) helped 46 South Sudanese youth aged between 17-30 years to complete a 3-month vocational training in tailoring (2 boys and 25 girls) and general carpentry skills (19 boys). The event took place at St. Vincent de Paul (Don Bosco) on Friday 13 September 2013.
Due to limited human resources, Juba is dependent on relatively-expensive skilled labour from Uganda or Kenya to undertake construction work. Returnees from Sudan have put stress on limited infrastructure thereby increasing the demand for skilled labour to rehabilitate and develop social infrastructure. Market demand for skilled labour is presently unmet from within Sudan. Carpenters and masons are imported from Uganda or Kenya to undertake much of construction.
Praising the World Vision’s initiative as he was addressing the trainees in his capacity as Guest of Honor, Emmanuel Taban, Deputy Director of the Rajaf Payam, Juba-Central Equatoria, said, ‘the programme has shown you a path that would enable you to make a living’. He called upon World Vision to extend the training period from 3 to 6 months to help the youth acquire life-skills and technique that will impact the community and our nation.
“I have finally a certificate in tailoring skills… I have gained marketable skills that will help me gain income for the children and siblings I care for,” said the happy Rose Guru Samuel.
Teleri Jardine, Juba Area Rehabilitation Programme co-ordinator (JARP) commended the graduates for their hard work in learning new skills and wished them well as they start to utilize their new skills, donated sewing machines and carpentry kits through the establishment of micro businesses. She also thanked the teachers of St. Vincent de Paul for the dedication in leading the training.
JARP Coordinator Teleri Jardine planted a tree in the compound of St. Vincent de Paul (Don Bosco) as a mark of the World Vision – St. Vincent de Paul partnership.
The public who came to witness that event, mainly composed of children and women, enjoyed songs, dance, comedy and drama which encouraged the youth to go to school and refrain from alcohol.
Sewing and carpentry kits, originally donated by the European Commission (Europe Aid) were provided to the trainees at the end of their 3-month training.
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Rose Guru Samuel holding her completion certificate in tailoring. Looking on is Emmanuel Taban, Guest of Honor, and Teleri Jardine, World Vision JARP Coordinator
Teleri Jardine planted a tree in the compound of St. Vincent de Paul (Don Bosco) as a mark of the World Vision – St. Vincent de Paul partnership.
Teleri Jardine handing over a sewing machine to a trainee
(Photos: Daniel Massamba Meboya)