At least 31 youths, government officials and civil society organization representatives concluded a two-day training on constitution making, governance, and elections in Bentiu, the capital of Unity State, on Friday.
The training organized by local NGO, the Active Citizens of South Sudan, aimed at strengthening the youth and other stakeholders in constitution and election skills.
The organization also wanted to build a good relationship between the youth and government in the area.
The Active Citizens of South Sudan Program Manager, Gai Makieu Gai, said the training was a platform for the youth to voice their challenges and seek amicable solutions.
Gai said the exclusion of the youth in decision-making was one of the loopholes in the pursuit of peace and security in the state.
“We are conducting a dialogue between the youth and the local government on how the youth can be represented and what the government is doing for the upcoming elections, the constitution making and other peace programs in the state,” Gai said.
“We want the youth and stakeholders to participate in elections and constitution making. The participants said the youth were idle hence some engaged in criminal activities,” he added.
Gatwech Mayak from Bentiu said the youth were demanding inclusion in all the government processes,
The government needs to extend and improve education in all rural areas, he said.
The State Director General for Peacebuilding, Peter Far, said the awareness would help the youth to know their rights during the elections as well as equip the citizens about their rights
The official hoped for free and fair elections in the country next year.
Similar awareness campaign is expected to take place at the Bentiu POC next Monday and Tuesday.