UNMISS has funded the training of some 45 young citizens of Aweil, two-thirds of whom are women, in a three-month-long training to make liquid soap.
A representative of the newly graduated students, Okot Anduro, appreciated UNMISS for the training and said it should continue so that the country stops importing soap.
“If we can keep this project going, we are equipped to make a difference for our country and we should no longer have to import liquid soap but instead make it ourselves in South Sudan,” he said, adding. “Producing and selling the products will also help course participants to sustain themselves and their families.”
The vocational training, aimed at empowering young men and women by making it easier for them to make a living, was funded by the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) and implemented by the national non-governmental organization Help Restore Youth.
Admiring the skills of young soap makers, who used the opportunity offered by the graduation ceremony to demonstrate how the products are made, Sebastian Uchan, the Northern Bahr el Ghazal State cabinet affairs minister, highlighted the need for a combination of know-how and inspiration among the youth.
“This is a unique occasion in our state and it means a lot when you manage to manufacture something on your own, for the good of your society,” he said. “Training like this one helps us recreate ourselves, adding much-needed creativity and a refreshment of our minds.”
He urged the peacekeeping mission to continue its support for the development of the country.
Inecita Montero, the acting head of the UNMISS field office in Aweil, was pleased with the success of the course and urged the graduates to share knowledge with their families.
“I ask you to replicate this experience by teaching family members and friends how to produce soap,” she urged. “The more skilled people you have, the more your community will benefit.”