Child rights body empowers women, youth with vocational skills

JUBA – About 70 youth and women have been empowered with vocational skills in Tonj North County of South Sudan’s Warrap State.

The three-months training was organized by The Organization for Children Harmony (TOCH), with support from the Catholic international development charity (CAFOD) and Irish development charity (TROCAIRE).

Skills will create alternative livelihoods and income generating activities.

The beneficiaries were trained on tailoring, masonry and bakery.

Marko Madut, the Executive Director of TOCH said the initiative aimed at creating a friendly environment for peaceful coexistence among the communities of Greater Tonj counties.

“The project was planned to address root causes of violent conflict, provide space for non-violent means of conflict resolutions and transfer critical conflict management skills to communities through peace committees and other community-based conflict management structures,” said Madut.

“It is expected that these skills will help trainees work, earn income and improve their livelihoods, thereby stopping them from violence,” he added.

Akur Madau, a beneficiary from the masonry training, challenged her fellow women to perform duties that were previously reserved for men.

“I want to be involved in construction work because I don’t see the reason why women fear construction and consider it as a role of men,” she said.

The graduates were also given start-up cash and materials for businesses.

Founded in 2008, TOCH implements projects in protection, peace-building, food security as well as water and sanitation in the Bahr el Ghazal region.

The child rights organization is, as part of its new strategic plan (2022-2027), reportedly seeking to scale up its resources mobilization efforts to enable its programs meet the needs of the communities in their current operations and venture into new areas based on needs and availability of resources.