Rumbek Skills Drive Empowers 60 Graduates
More than 60 young South Sudanese finished a three-month vocational course in tailoring, hairdressing, catering and information technology in Rumbek, Lakes State. On Saturday each graduate walked away with a customised startup kit designed to turn new skills into immediate income.
Women’s Economic Resilience Takes Center Stage
Women represented the majority, with 51 participants. Facilitators say the gender balance reflects rising female demand for marketable skills amid economic pressures.
Hairdressing graduate Martha Lela Galu called the course “empowering,” noting that earnings will help her keep children in school and cover clinic bills. Tailoring trainee Aluet Makur Magok already scouts stalls where she can offer made-to-measure clothing.
Partners Bolster Self-Reliance Goals
The initiative is led by the Disabled Association for Rehabilitation and Development with Oxfam’s technical backing and Germany’s BMZ funding. Area manager Isaac Majier Major said the objective is to strengthen household resilience and reduce long-term dependence on aid.
Voices of New Entrepreneurs
Catering graduate Abraham Machok believes his portable oven will open doors in Rumbek’s growing event scene. “This training restored my hope,” he said. Information-technology alumni received laptops and routers, enabling freelance data entry and computer maintenance services.
Officials Call for Expanded Vocational Investment
Gabriel Maluac Yak, director general at the Ministry of General Education, praised donors for sparking livelihoods and urged more funding for practical training nationwide. He argued that equipping youth with hands-on expertise is central to poverty reduction and social stability.
Government officials added that collaborations with private sector and civil society create a pipeline from classroom to marketplace, aligning with national development plans and Africa-wide strategies for decent jobs.