SOUTH SUDAN / YOUTH ENVOY
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STORY: SOUTH SUDAN / YOUTH ENVOY
TRT: 03:38
SOURCE: UNMISS
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS
DATELINE: 29 JANUARY 2020, TORIT, SOUTH SUDAN
1. Various shots, youth training on sewing machines
2. Wide shot, exterior of vocational training center
3. Med shot, delegation walking past
4. Various shots, trainees undergoing training in construction
5. Wide shot, UN Envoy observing trainees
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Jayathma Wickramanayake, United Nations Secretary-General's Envoy on Youth:
“Seeing the sheer numbers of young people who have signed up for these trainings, they had to even go through a selection process to be selected for these programmes. I also heard that some of the young people who used to be part of armed groups have now given up their arms and joined the vocational training schools to find a positive way to contribute to the development of South Sudan. So, I think this answers an urgent call.”
7. Various shots, trainees being addressed as they listen
8. Wide shot, group photo
9. SOUNDBITE (English) Dr. Margaret Itto, Torit Deputy Governor:
“This is an opportunity of skills that will remain with you. You take to your homes, that will improve the livelihoods of your family.”
10. Med shot, Youth Envoy listening to a group of youth
11. Close up, graphics on banner
12. SOUNDBITE (English) Ohucholi Patrick Oromo, Youth Leader:
“We really need a government to be formed because the youth are suffering. We need other programmes to come so that youth are given more skills, so that youth are given empowerment, so that they will be able in the long term to have the skills where they can enjoy their own lives.”
13. Various shots, youth holding banners with peace messages and Youth Envoy interacting with them
14. SOUNDBITE (English) Jayathma Wickramanayake, United Nations Secretary-General's Envoy on Youth:
“Their needs, and their aspirations and their dreams are not very different to young people from other parts of the world. They need a peaceful, safe environment to live in. They need education, quality education, they need employment opportunities for them to have dignity and for them to be economically empowered and to contribute back to their families, their villages, and their country as a whole. I’ve been incredibly touched by the resilience of these young people, how they choose always positivism without being darkened by all the dark and doom stories that they hear.”
15. Various shots, women introducing their collective
South Sudanese teenagers in Torit are trading in their weapons for the chance to access training to enable them to support themselves and secure a brighter future for their families. They shared their stories with the UN Secretary General’s Envoy on Youth, Jayathma Wickramanayake, who is visiting the conflict-affected country this week.
These Singer sewing machines may be a bit old-fashioned and require a fair bit of effort to operate. But they are a lifeline for hundreds of young people in Torit who are desperate for an opportunity to learn new skills so they can support themselves and their families.
About 420 vulnerable and marginalized young people are enrolled at the Torit Vocational Training Centre, supported by UNDP and the Netherlands. The trainees eagerly demonstrated their newly acquired skills in tailoring, construction and engineering to the UN Envoy on Youth during a visit to the Eastern Equatorial town.
SOUNDBITE (English) Jayathma Wickramanayake, United Nations Secretary-General's Envoy on Youth:
“Seeing the sheer numbers of young people who have signed up for these trainings, they had to even go through a selection process to be selected for these programmes. I also heard that some of the young people who used to be part of armed groups have now given up their arms and joined the vocational training schools to find a positive way to contribute to the development of South Sudan. So, I think this answers an urgent call.”
Local authorities say projects like this will, not only, help individuals earn an income, but also support economic growth for the region and country more broadly.
SOUNDBITE (English) Dr. Margaret Itto, Torit Deputy Governor:
“This is an opportunity of skills that will remain with you. You take to your homes, that will improve the livelihoods of your family.”
The Youth Envoy is visiting the country to support efforts to build the capacity of young people to reach their full potential in life and to ensure they play an active role in the peace process. In Torit, young peace activists are urging political leaders to put their differences aside and form a new unity government next month, as promised.
SOUNDBITE (English) Ohucholi Patrick Oromo, Youth Leader:
“We really need a government to be formed because the youth are suffering. We need other programmes to come so that youth are given more skills, so that youth are given empowerment, so that they will be able in the long term to have the skills where they can enjoy their own lives.”
This message is echoed by the Youth Envoy who has seen first-hand, during her visit, the immense suffering of young people as a result of the five-year conflict.
SOUNDBITE (English) Jayathma Wickramanayake, United Nations Secretary-General's Envoy on Youth:
“Their needs, and their aspirations and their dreams are not very different to young people from other parts of the world. They need a peaceful, safe environment to live in. They need education, quality education, they need employment opportunities for them to have dignity and for them to be economically empowered and to contribute back to their families, their villages, and their country as a whole. I’ve been incredibly touched by the resilience of these young people, how they choose always positivism without being darkened by all the dark and doom stories that they hear.”
The Youth Envoy also met with women entrepreneurs who have formed a special support network dedicated to helping them grow their businesses. Her trip to South Sudan concludes tomorrow.