At least 74 women graduated and were awarded certificates in social and economic empowerment services in the fields of agribusiness and trade in Torit town in Eastern Equatorial State on Wednesday
The women were trained for three months by Action for Recovery and Transformation (ART) in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the state ministry of trade and industry.
The training in trade comprised tailoring, bakery/pastry, event management, and ICT while agribusiness was focused on market-oriented vegetable production and business skills.
Speaking during the graduation, the ART’s executive director, Mansuk Moses, said the project; Social and Economic Empowerment Training, is meant to cover the whole state with an overall target of 350 beneficiaries.
“Today (Wednesday), we are celebrating the official graduation of the trainees that were supported under the social and economic empowerment program which is funded by African Development Bank with support from UNDP,” Mansuk said. “ART is the implementing partner in Eastern Equatorial State. This program covers three counties and the overall target for the beneficiaries to be supported under this project is 350; Torit 70, Magwi 140, and Kapoeta 140.”
The representative of the trainees, Esther Ibiala, thanked the government and the supporting partners for the training and urged for more women to be trained in an effort to reduce vulnerabilities in families.
“Today is the happiest day in our lives, let me say that we the beneficiaries doubted a lot but when we go into it and put much attention and interest, we now see the fruits and our dreams are being fulfilled,” Ibiala said, adding. “We saw everything working after seeing the work of our hands as you are seeing.”
She appealed that more women should be given an opportunity to participate in such pieces of training because they are vulnerable.
Ayet Winnie, who was trained in juice production said she is now motivated to provide local beverage services.
“I am very happy today because this training brought us, women together. What really motivated me to join this training is that we were taught how to produce juice locally from our fruits and I am able to make it with my hand without any chemicals,” a beaming Ayet said.
The director-general in the state ministry of gender, child and social, Dominica Idwa, encouraged the women to participate in such training in order to help build resilience.
“I am so much happy today because this is a good chance you got. You people so you are supposed to be happy, even yelling,” Idwa said. “The small you get today will be big tomorrow and I am so happy with the oversight committee for being committed and making sure that you people completed the training and graduated today.”