Several internally displaced women in Yei River State have urged authorities and humanitarian agencies to initiate programs that empower women to re-start livelihoods in their areas.
Joyce Wilma, a displaced woman, told Radio Tamazuj on Thursday that although she lost all her belongings during the conflict in 2016, she enrolled for a vocational training at a women center in Yei town so that she could learn skills that would allow her earn a living and sustain her family.
She said she learned catering and baking skills that since then enabled her to meet the needs of her family.
“I know catering more especially modern cooking, making cakes and bread. This is helping me a lot and I am able to buy food for my family, pay my children in school and also pay for medical bills of my children and parents,” said Joyce.
Empowering women in various skills can help end domestic violence, trauma and poverty among women in the state, she said.
Joyce urged government, business entities and non-governmental organizations to support innovative vulnerable women groups by providing loans to help them fight poverty.
Josephine Bhakita, who returned from a refugee camp in Uganda, said she acquired skills in sewing clothes and making beads.
“As a woman, I did not know how to use a sewing machine to make bed sheets in the past, but today, I am happy because I have learnt a skill and my neighbors are paying me for the clothes and bed sheets I make for them,” said Bakhita.
She added, “My message to the women is that let's all stand up and attend vocational trainings so that we can reduce financial dependence on husbands to meet our needs”.
Gita Stella, a project officer for Community Initiative for Development Organization (CIDO) said they trained over 100 internally displaced persons in various practical skills to fight poverty.
She said after trainings, beneficiaries get certificates, recommendation letters and start-up kits for self-employment.
“During the crisis, many people lost almost all their belongings, but with this initiative, these women can start from anywhere and do something for themselves and their families. We are targeting the vulnerable returnees and IDPs so that they can learn skills to help this nation,” said Gita.
She, however, said lack of structures, inadequate funds, few learning materials and start-up kits remain major challenges in efforts to sustain the program, which she said is highly demanded by the women.
One of the areas badly affected by South Sudan’s civil war, Yei has witnessed human rights violations and massive displacement since 2016.