135 REFUGEES & HOST COMMUNITY MEMBERS EMPOWERED WITH HANDS ON SKILLS

By Samson Ganiko

Obongi

At least 130 South Sudanese refugees and the host community members in Palorinya refugee’s settlement Obongi district have completed a 3 months hands on skills training to improve their livelihoods. The beneficiaries were trained in carpentry & joinery, plumbing, hair dressing, electronic installation, garment cutting among other courses. The program was implemented by Comboni missionaries and financed by GIZ and UNDP.

Yousa Pena Alex, a refugee practicing Plumbing disclosed that he was motivated by his friends who have benefited from such a project and now supporting their families. “I have a friend who is a plumber now he is earning a living after getting the training of hands on skills, he has changed so greatly because he is no longer a dependent, infact he extends financial support to his other members of the family.

And after seeing all these I also chose to be a plumber. When I heard about the call for application, I applied and we were trained and we have learnt a lot which will help me as an individual even if I go back to south Sudan” Yousa remarked.     

Jackson Jibi who acquired skills in welding $ metal fabrication revealed that the training will help him to improve the financial status of his family. “Welding is one of the marketable industry because they are many people are constructing houses. And this is good for us who have acquired this skills. For you to get money from the customers, you need to have quality work. We learned many things and I believe it help me to move forward and expose myself to the world of competition and remain relevant in the job market,” Jackson noted.  
 
Whereas Scovia Kojo from the department of building appealed to her fellow ladies to practice the skills they have acquired, compete with the men for the same opportunities in the industry instead of being dependants on their husbands or fathers.  “I’m ready to face any competition from any person since I’m now done with the training. I am going to look for work to sustain my living instead of depending on people, I don’t want to be a beggar, and in fact I was but now with this skills I’m no longer,” Scovia said.

However, Ocatre Innocent, the monitoring and evaluation officer with the Comboni Missionaries said the program aimed at addressing challenges of unemployment among the refugees and the host community. “One of challenges facing us is the issue of unemployment among the young persons. The idea of skilling them is to make them self-reliant to meet their daily basic needs but also to be able to support their families” Ocatre pointed.    

COVER PHOTO: Students demonstrating practical skills during their graduation By Samson Ganiko