Latest news with #EasternEquatoria
Zawya
04-08-2025
- Health
- Zawya
Community Violence Reduction Project transforms lives in Eastern Equatoria
'Our lives have turned from bad to better.' Alimu Robert Godfrey is one of 107 young people, including 35 women, benefiting from an initiative to improve opportunities to find jobs and build businesses as well as prevent their involvement in conflict across South Sudan. He learned new skills in plumbing during a vocational training in Torit, under the Community Violence Reduction Project (CVRP) supported by the United Nations Mission in South Sudan. 'This will help me become self-reliant and change the course of my life,' he says. 'Engaging these youth who are actively involved in violence is part of our protection of civilians and conflict prevention efforts,' says UNMISS Civil Affairs Officer, Basabas Efuk. 'It gives them the tools to be productive members of society and to go back to their communities as ambassadors of peace.' The lack of professional opportunities in Eastern Equatoria and across the country often forces young people into unstable jobs, such as driving boda-bodas or part-time construction. Worse than that, they can become involved in crime and conflict just to survive. 'By participating in this project, we now have options for finding stable employment or becoming entrepreneurs,' emphasizes participant Francis Lopukei. From plumbing to auto-mechanics, catering or hairdressing, participants can choose their own future, based on their individual strengths and interests. Another beneficiary, Hellen Amoo Moris, is now a professional hairdresser. 'These trainings give us hope that we can harness the power of knowledge to build a better life.' The project also helps bring diverse youth together for social activities to build trust, confidence and strong networks for peace, such as the football match organized by UNMISS and its long-standing partner, the Torit Health Science Institute, which attracted hundreds of spectators. 'The positive way in which the players interacted showed that if we continue promoting such activities, our country will grow and become peaceful. It showed that we are united and can come together for a good cause,' says Francis Lopukei, one of the team captains. The vocational training project will run until the end of September, marking one year since its commencement, but its impact will reach far beyond this date. 'After getting this chance to create opportunities for ourselves, it is now time for us to give back and become job creators. The future is bright!' exclaims Moris. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).
Zawya
02-07-2025
- Politics
- Zawya
Lawmakers' increased skills have improved efforts to resolve conflicts in Eastern Equatoria
Residents in Eastern Equatoria State are pleased with the recently established parliamentary caucuses, which they feel are contributing to an improved way of handling intercommunal violence by adopting adequate legislation and peacebuilding strategies. 'We've been receiving lots of great feedback from local communities, who think that the work of their political representatives has become more effective,' commented Anthony Nwapa, Acting Head of the UN peacekeeping mission's Field Office in Torit. For a long time, staff serving with the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), together with experts on a variety of subject matters, including leadership skills, protocol issues, the constitution-making process and conflict mitigation, are working hard to support Eastern Equatoria's legislature. 'It is a gradual process, but it is definitely boosting our ability to fulfill our roles and responsibilities. Our collective commitment to good governance has also increased as a result of this ongoing capacity building,' said Charles Udwar Ukech, Speaker of the Eastern Equatoria State Transitional Legislative Assembly. According to Governor Louis Lobong Lojore, the biggest and most important part of the regular training sessions is what they can achieve in terms of creating and maintaining peace between the state's different communities. 'Managing conflicts amicably is key, and it is our responsibility to make that happen,' he affirmed as he addressed the almost 100 lawmakers and clerical staff attending the latest of the UNMISS-led workshops. It won't, however, be the last such session. 'The positive results so far encourage us. We will keep assisting the state legislature in any way we can,' pledged Mr. Nwapa, who is also a Civil Affairs Officer. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).
