Civil Society Coalition Intensifies Voter Education In South Sudan
By John Agok
A coalition of civil society organizations in South Sudan have trained people amassed from different likeminded Organizations to impart to others the knowledge, skills, and roles of CSOs in civic education, election and principle of democratic governance.
The two-day capacity building seminar organized by South Sudanese Network for Democracy and Elections (SSuNDE) with Support from UN partners and concluded on Friday saw over 50 participants coached on National Elections and Political parties Acts both of 2012.
The Executive Director of SSuNDE, Galdino Ochama Ojok told this publication that, they have expended to 79 Counties in the ten states of South Sudan to popularize and ignite if not refresh public knowledge on democratic principles.
“We are skilling this people train other trainees across the Country as we are in 79 Counties in ten states. Civic education is the study of self-governance and it requires active participation of all citizens, civic education is exclusive to democratic society” he said.
Mr.Ojok who also facilitated the training entreated participants to concentrate effort in training more trainees who will eventually lecture the public to understand their roles and responsibilities in peace roadmap and Permanent Constitution making process ahead of general elections in South Sudan.
“The main objective of this seminar is to bolster the capacity of trainers to train others on civic engagement. Our people have to get broadcasting on roadmap for them to know their roles and responsibilities in the upcoming Permanent Constitution and general elections,” he added.
Zahra Said Ali who participated in this exercise acknowledged that, the training has been an eye opener and has given them a wide range of skills that they can deploy to save the shrinking civic space of South Sudan.
“This training indeed is an eye opener for us CSOs to acquire skills and Knowledge, despite the shrinking civic space in the Country. The security apparatus and hindering the work on disseminating the Civic awareness to the masses”, she underscored.
