Fifteen women in Tore Payam, Yei River County, Central Equatoria State, have graduated from a six-month tailoring and economics training programme, marking a significant step in empowering women and youth in the area.
The initiative, launched on Thursday, is part of a broader effort to build resilience and sustainable development for women and youth across the three bomas of Adio, Mundu, and Avokaya in Tore Payam.
The project, themed “Empowering Communities for Resilience and Sustainable Development,” is implemented by the Network of Seventy Right Women Peace Organization in South Sudan (NEWPASS) and funded by a consortium including the German government, the European Union, and GIZ.
James Ludai, NEWPASS Project Officer, told Radio Tamazuj that the programme aims to equip women and youth with practical skills to improve their livelihoods and foster sustainable development.
“We successfully graduated 15 trainees in tailoring and provided them with tailoring machines and startup kits,” Ludai said. “This project was made possible through the support of the German government, the European Union, and GIZ. We are grateful to the donors for their commitment to supporting vulnerable women in Tore and look forward to expanding our efforts in the future.”
Florence Faida, one of the beneficiaries, expressed her gratitude for the training but highlighted the need for additional skills development.
“I am happy with this initiative because it is the first of its kind in Tore. However, we need more training in areas like hairdressing and catering. With the tailoring skills we’ve gained, we can now earn a living, but we hope this is just the beginning,” she said.
Cirilo Khamis, a youth leader in Tore Payam, urged NEWPASS to continue its support and expand the training to other fields.
“NEWPASS should not stop at tailoring. We need more initiatives, such as driving and other vocational skills, to empower our community further,” Khamis said.
Charles Badi, representing the payam director’s office, praised NEWPASS for its efforts and called on other organisations to follow its example.
Tore Payam, located 48 miles from Yei Town along the Maridi road, comprises the bomas of Mundu, Baka, Avokaya, and Adio. The area has faced significant challenges since the outbreak of conflict in 2016, making initiatives like this crucial for community recovery and development.