Bor, 14 March 2017 - More than 300 people have graduated from an intensive training course in technical and vocational skills including carpentry, welding, electricity, and construction in Bor.

The graduates were passed out last week from two training centers, established by the UNMISS Korean Military engineering contingent in Bor.

The Korean peacekeepers established the Hanbit Agricultural Training Center in 2015 and Hanbit Vocational Training centers in 2016, to empower both internally displaced persons - IDPs and citizens outside the UN Protection of Civilian sites, with vital skills for reconstruction and development.

The trainees who graduated from the Hanbit vocational Training Center received a certificate of completion, approved by the central government of South Sudan.

Presiding over the graduation ceremony, the Commander of the Republic of Korea Horizontal Military Engineering Unit - ROK HMEC, Col. Ahn Deogsang, said the graduation ceremony marks a major milestone for the trainees and the nation.

"The skills and knowledge that the trainees acquired will become a cornerstone for the miracle of South Sudan,” he said, noting that, “The trainees' efforts become a helping hand to the development of South Sudan.”

An outstanding trainee award went to Ms.  Nhial Kurr Nhia. She acknowledged that with support from the Korean peacekeepers she has been able to gain skills that she hopes to use for the good of the country.

"I was able to gain important and advanced techniques during the three months of short training, and I would like to also play a great role in the reconstruction of South Sudan with my other colleagues," said Kurr Nhia as she received her award.

UNMISS peacekeepers in Bor have been implementing similar training since 2015, as part of the Mission's approach to support peace at the community level.  In addition, both the technical and vocational training centers are implemented as peace building strategies, which most notably bringing people from diverse tribes and backgrounds to study, cooperate during practical sessions and work together.

The acting spokesperson of the UN mission in South Sudan, Shantal Persaud, said these training centers established by the Korean peacekeepers are designed to not only build vocational skills, and facilitate development, but also to build relationships and foster reconciliation,  between the internally displaced persons participating in the training.