After fleeing violence and spending years sheltering in a United Nations protection camp, Nyapac Orach never imagined that she would graduate with the skills to provide a better future for herself and her family.

The South Sudanese woman who lives at the Protection of Civilians site next to the UN base in Malakal, in the north of the country, was among a diverse group of 20 trainees aged between 19 and 67-years-old who have just graduated from a tailoring training programme. There were also two people living with disabilities among the group.

“I never imagined I would ever have a graduation. This is the first time since we came here that there has been a graduation at the PoC,” said Nyapac Orach.

The training is part of a series of projects funded by the UN Refugee Agency and implemented by the Danish Refugee Council aimed at preparing internally displaced people (IDPs) for their eventual return home once durable peace is secured in South Sudan, a nation that erupted in war just two years after winning independence in 2011.

Other projects designed to help IDPs support themselves include training in bread baking, tea making and bead work, which are all very popular activities of enterprise in South Sudan.

“The Protection of Civilians site is only temporary, so people will eventually return to their communities, and they can take these skills and it will help them rebuild their lives outside the site,” said Sebastian Herwig, the UNHCR Associate Field Officer for Protection in Malakal.

“IDPs have gone through a lot and yes they are vulnerable but this project shows us that they are also full of strength and creativity and talent,” he said.

The graduates from the tailoring training will be placed in four community-based groups where they will put to use their newly acquired skills making school uniforms for children living in the PoC site.

Bringing together the trainees from different backgrounds will help promote peace and help ensure they hone their skills for a brighter future.