The Women Advancement Organization (WAO) a national non-governmental organization based in Yei River County of Central Equatoria State Thursday graduated more than 40 women students.
This is WAO’s second batch of graduates since its establishment in Yei in June 2017.
Speaking to Radio Tamazuj during the graduation WAO’s Yei Field Coordinator, Gisma Charity, said the women received literacy classes, handcraft, and liquid soap-making training.
“We have trained beneficiaries for three months in three different courses. Functional literacy was included in their training and there were numerous classes for handcraft and liquid soap departments because we have some people who did not reach the high primary level f education. we had to upgrade their literacy class. 43 women successfully completed their training out of 60 trainees,” she added.
Night Jenifer the graduates’ representative appreciated the WAO for the training saying they are now empowered to cater for their families.
“I really want to thank you and I want to say that, this one here is just the beginning, there are many women who require such training,” she said.
Meanwhile, Victoria Poni Ezbon, the Executive Director of WAO urged the beneficiaries to make use of the knowledge and skills they acquired to boost their livelihoods.
“To my dear graduates, you got the skills and knowledge, but we need you to put that knowledge into practice. Do not go and hide that in your room or kitchen, use that knowledge, make use of it, come out and tell the world that we are women and we can do what a man can do, we are women, we can do everything,” she advised them.
For his part, the Commissioner of Yei River County who was the guest of honor at the event encouraged school dropouts to join vocational training schools and cautioned parents to enroll their children in schools or vocational centers.
“I want to encourage those who cannot manage to continue with education, they should get access to education through vocational schools,” he said. “It must be your mandate parents. If you are a father and your child is not in school or a vocational school, I will arrest both of you because we don’t want people who loiter around.”
The 3-month training funded by women for women and implemented by WAO is meant to empower women to be self-reliant.
WAO operates in Central Equatoria, Western Equatoria, Western Bahr el Ghazal, and Jonglei States.