On August 29th, the Multi-Service Training Centre (MTC) in Juba was filled with excitement and pride as 750 young people celebrated their graduation from a rigorous 3-month vocational skills training program. This milestone marked not only the culmination of their hard work but also the dawn of new opportunities for economic empowerment and transformation in South Sudan.

Among the graduates were 404 female and 346 male, all of whom participated in the Skills Employment Empowerment for the Development of Youth (SEED4Y) initiative. This program, dedicated to enhancing employability and fostering entrepreneurial spirit, provided training in various technical and business skills, including Automotive Mechanics, Building Construction (Masonry), Catering Services and Hotel Management, Electrical Installation, Phone Repair, Plumbing and Pipe Fitting, Hairdressing, Tailoring, and Welding. The program also featured industrial placements, career guidance, and mentorship to ensure the graduates were well-prepared for the workforce.

The event was honoured by the presence of the Minister of Labour, Hon. James Hoth Mai, who, along with ministry officials, representatives from the Kingdom of the Netherlands Embassy, and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), celebrated the achievements of the graduates. In his keynote address, Hon. Mai urged the graduates to be innovative and enterprising, creating brands that resonate with the needs and culture of South Sudan. He emphasized the critical role of the private sector in the country’s development and encouraged the graduates to leverage their new skills to enhance employability and explore entrepreneurship.

A particularly inspiring moment of the day was the speech by Joseph Garang Bol, a 35-year-old graduate who shared his journey from having no income-generating skills to becoming employed as a chef at the Crown Hotel, one of Juba’s premier hotels. Garang’s success story is a testament to the transformative power of the SEED4Y program, which has equipped him and his peers with the tools to build a brighter future.

The SEED4Y initiative is implemented by the Star Trust Organisation, with the support of the United Nations Development Programme and funding from the Kingdom of the Netherlands, empowering the women and youth of South Sudan.