SOUTH SUDAN / TAMBURA LIVELIHOOD SKILLS TRAINING

Youth in Tambura, South Sudan, are turning vocational training into a force for peace and prosperity. Supported by UNMISS, 61 graduates—armed with new skills in tailoring and beauty services—are now building better lives for their families and communities. "This helps us stay away from crime and support our families," said trainee Justin Alex. UNMISS

• Video Length: 00:04:09
• Production Date: 15 November 2024
• Asset Language: English; Arabic
• Corporate Name: UNITED NATIONS MISSION IN SOUTH SUDAN – UNMISS
• Subject Topical: VOCATIONAL TRAINING; TRAINING PROGRAMMES
• Geographic Subject: SOUTH SUDAN
• MAMS Id: 3309397
• Parent Id: 3309397
• Alternate Title: unifeed241115b

Description

STORY: SOUTH SUDAN / TAMBURA LIVELIHOOD SKILLS TRAINING
TRT: 04:09
SOURCE: UNMISS
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ARABIC / ENGLISH / NATS

DATELINE: 15 NOVEMBER 2024, TAMBURA, SOUTH SUDAN

Shotlist

1. Various shots, trainee attending livelihood skills training
2. SOUNDBITE (English) Suzan James, mother of two and a beneficiary of livelihood skills training:
“I am very thankful because I have learnt things I didn’t know before but currently am able to do. It is helping me, and I am very proud and happy about it. After this, I will be opening my own salon to help the community.”
3. Various shots, women attending their weekly coffee forum
4. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Justin Alex, a beneficiary of livelihood skills training:
“Now, if I bring this sewing machine home, I will be able to do some work to support my family. As youth it’s not that we just stay at home or commit crimes in town that will lead to deaths in our communities, because that is not good. From now on, we need to engage in activities that will help us in life, like taking this machine home so that I can help my family.”
5. Various shots, graduation of trainee attending livelihood skills training
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Ibrahim Tahiru, UNMISS Protection, Transition, and Reintegration Officer:
“This project can bring peace, but it also needs peace to grow. So, on this note I would like to appeal to all of you here to please give peace a chance. Without peace, these things are going to be useless. Because the graduates need a peaceful and stable environment to be able to apply their (new) skills, they have learned to be able to better their lives and those of their families. This (initiative) shows our commitment to continue to engage with you and to help you in your quest to attain lasting durable peace but also to break free from the shackles of poverty.”
7. Various shots, graduation of trainee attending livelihood skills training
8. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Moses Masisere, Acting Commissioner of Tambura, Western Equatoria State:
“Indeed, in Tambura we have been yearning for peace. So, with this support we believe that training more youth and engaging them in economic activities will reduce killings and other crimes around Tambura.”
9. Wide shot, graduation of trainee attending livelihood skills training

Storyline

Excitement was in the air among the youth in Tambura in South Sudan’s Western Equatoria State when they recently finished a livelihood skills training. They are now able to make good use of their new know-how of tailoring, cosmetology and other beauty salon services to improve the quality of life of themselves and their families.

The graduates, 41 females and 20 males, benefitted from a project funded by the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) and implemented by the Star Trust Organization, an entity aiming to reduce community violence by empowering youth.

Those who finished the training also received start-up kits suitable for their different specializations.
Suzan James, mother of two and a beneficiary of the livelihood skills training said, “I am very thankful because I have learnt things I didn’t know before but currently am able to do. It is helping me, and I am very proud and happy about it. After this, I will be opening my own salon to help the community.”

Another trainee, now a proficient tailor, is convinced that the vocational skills training will contribute to peace.
Justin Alex said, “Now, if I bring this sewing machine home, I will be able to do some work to support my family. As youth it’s not that we just stay at home or commit crimes in town that will lead to deaths in our communities, because that is not good. From now on, we need to engage in activities that will help us in life, like taking this machine home so that I can help my family.”

An UNMISS representative attending the graduation ceremony stressed the importance of everyone maintaining Tambura peaceful.

Ibrahim Tahiru, UNMISS Protection, Transition, and Reintegration Officer said, “This project can bring peace, but it also needs peace to grow. So, on this note I would like to appeal to all of you here to please give peace a chance. Without peace, these things are going to be useless. Because the graduates need a peaceful and stable environment to be able to apply their (new) skills, they have learned to be able to better their lives and those of their families. This (initiative) shows our commitment to continue to engage with you and to help you in your quest to attain lasting durable peace but also to break free from the shackles of poverty.”

Local authorities are convinced of the positive impact of vocational skills trainings. Moses Masisere, Acting Commissioner of Tambura, Western Equatoria State said, “Indeed, in Tambura we have been yearning for peace. So, with this support we believe that training more youth and engaging them in economic activities will reduce killings and other crimes around Tambura.”

In its continuous bid to maintain peace in the area, the UN peacekeeping keeps conducting patrols in vulnerable communities. It is generally believed that the visibility and actions of the Blue Helmets have contributed significantly to reducing tensions.