Slightly more than 250 students Friday last week graduated from the Bor Vocational Training Centre in South Sudan's Jonglei State capital Bor Town.

The 259 graduates, including 179 females, were part of a 3-month long training in hairdressing and beauty therapy, auto-mechanics, bakery and catering, plumbing and pipe fitting, electrical and solar installation, and basic computer skills.

A national NGO, Smile Again Africa Development Organization (SAADO) in partnership with UNDP, provided the vocational training skills with support from the Netherlands government. 

SAADO’s state coordinator, John Mayol Nhial, told Radio Tamazuj that the training is meant to empower the youth to become self-reliant. 

"Working for the young people helps the nation through job creation. The life skills help people of South Sudan because you will be self-reliant," he said. 

Mayol urged the graduates to use their newly acquired skills to create jobs. 

Akur Gai, a female graduate, said, "I know one day my life will change because of this training. I chose the plumbing course because I am proud of it. However, our people discouraged me saying it is a male job."

Another graduand, who identified himself as John, applauded SAADO for providing the vocational training saying it will make him economically independent.