By Hou Akot Hou
At least 831 trainees who have been undergoing vocational training in Twic County, Warrap State, graduated on Friday in Turalei Payam.
This milestone was achieved after nearly a year of training provided by the International Organization for Migration (I.O.M) in collaboration with the state’s Ministry of Education.
According to Daniel Majak Bol, the supervisor at the training center, these trainees were drawn from six Payams in Twic County.
The selection process prioritized various groups, including nationals who fled the conflict in Sudan, internally displaced persons, and members of the host community.
Majak explained that the program aimed to strengthen livelihoods by providing training in fields such as carpentry, masonry, tailoring, and business enterprise.
“These individuals were trained in essential business skills, and they received startup kits, including grinding mills. They also learned how to operate local restaurants and engage in manual labor to support their daily lives,” he said.
“This initiative is part of a reintegration strategy for returnees and displaced individuals, enabling them to become self-sufficient,” he noted.
Abuk Garang, one of the graduates who returned from Sudan, praised the initiative for supporting unemployed groups in their communities.
“We are grateful for the great work done by I.O.M. With the grinding mill we received, we plan to use it effectively and allocate funds to start various businesses as a group. We also urge for this training to be extended to others in our communities,” Ms. Garang stated.
According to supervisor of the vocational training center in Turalei, the training program lasted seven months and was facilitated by 27 trainers. Among the 831 graduates, only 221 were female.
The graduates were encouraged to become job creators rather than relying on the government for employment, which may take a long time to materialize.