By John Agok
At least 70 youth and women have successfully completed technical and vocational education training (TVET) course held in Tonj North County of South Sudan’s Warrap State.
The three-months training organized by the Organization for Children Harmony (TOCH) was supported by the Catholic international development charity (CAFOD) and Irish development charity (TROCAIRE).
Marko Madut, the Executive Director of TOCH, said the training aims at promoting sustainable peace and creating a friendly environment for peaceful communities to co-exist in peace within the Greater Tonj.
“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,” Madut said.
The training that focused on tailoring, masonry and baking will help participants to use the skills acquired to generate income.
Trainees also underwent orientation on conflict management and labour market dynamics.
“It is expected that these skills will help trainees work, earn income and improve their livelihoods, thereby discouraging them from violence,” Madut added.
Akur Madau, who was trained in masonry called on 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 trainees were also given start-up cash and materials for business.
Founded in 2008, TOCH implements projects in protection, peacebuilding, food security as well as water and sanitation in the Bahr el Ghazal region.
The child rights organization plans to scale up resources mobilization 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.
