A reintegration project targeting conflict affected communities has been launched in Yambio by the high authority in the area beginning with a three day workshop targeting stakeholders.  The three year project is supported by UNICEF, targets women, children and youth who have been demobilized from the armed groups operating in Western Equatoria.

Speaking on the occasion, Major General Patrick Raphael Zamoi says the government will support the implementation of the project, the youth and community in general will be empowered with skills on peace building.

“We really completely forget about vocational schools to provide skills to our people and we had been so busy with IT as the computer come as new way to us but not vocational training. We need to provide skills to these people so that they will be in position to provide job for themselves and take care of their families.”

Zamoi stated that, youth should not depend on Boda-boda work it will lead them nowhere, adding that it is the obligation of the Government with the partners the International NGOs to find the best solution to the youth who are idle creating problems in the State. Adding that blaming the youth without providing something which could engage them busy cannot solve their problem.

Following the signing of peace agreement between the Government and the South Sudan National Liberation Movement on 2^nd April 2016 in Yambio the Government through its relevant structures has embarked on peace building and reintegration activities as an effort to restore hope, peace and security of the conflict affected people.

The head of Field Office in UNICEF in Yambio Dr. Daniel Driti says, the project is designed to target the children, youth and women who were affected by the conflict in Yambio and other Counties in the area to reintegrate them and create conducive environment for them help their families.

Adding that UNICEF is willing to support people of South Sudan more especially women and children in terms of education and health etc. He urged the Government of the area to work together and realize change among the community and also to provide security during the project implementation.

Meanwhile the Minister of Education Gender, child and social welfare Pia Philip said, his Ministry will champion on the three years project and it has secured funds from UNICEF to organize workshops on conflict resolution and peace building in the five Counties of Gbudue State.

Pia stated that, the objective of the project is to create conducive environment for the proper reintegration of the children, youth and women associated with conflict into the society. The stakeholders need to understand the different paradigms of conflict, acceptance and forgiveness, forge a local mechanism of managing conflict at the Payam levels.

He added that realities for the youth are changing including the loss of traditional livelihoods and widespread urbanization. Jobs are being created in urban areas but these are offered to foreigners who have the requisite skill, with no jobs or skill the marginalized youth choose violent and that means coming together based on shared tribal and political interests and poverty also contribute to the conflict gangs on the roads in south Sudan.