By Makur Adut

At least 60 people have graduated in Rumbek town, Lakes State, after an intensive three-month training in tailoring, catering and hotel management.

The training was conducted by Oxfam through funding from the German government under the BM-Z cooperation. 

Speaking at the event, Majier Major Adut, Oxfam Area Manager for Rumbek Field Office, said the project was implemented in partnership with a local partner known as the Disabled Associations for Rehabilitation Development (DARD).

“Through our collaboration and support from the Ministries of Education, Labour and Public Service. We enrolled about 63 from the initial stage and then 3 dropped out. But 60 managed to complete,” he said.

“From the 60 graduates, majority of them are women,” said Major, stressing that 51 of them were women and only 9 men.

He said the training enable him to understand the resilience of women. And urged the society to be more resilient and adaptive so as to generate income necessary for improving living standards.

“This is what we did under TVET through the leadership of the Ministries of Labour and Public Service, with support from the Ministry of General Education,” Major explained.

The organization provided the graduates’ startup kit, for instance, those trained in computers were provided with printers, carriages, including other stationery to start their work.

In his remarks, the Director General of the Ministry of General Education and instructions, Gabriel Maluac Yak, said they had been in consultation with the national government on how to bring technical vocational training in the state.

He called on the youth in the State to seize the opportunity to acquire life and vocational skills training to change their livelihoods.

Maluac praised the government of Lakes State for maintaining peace and security in the state, which enabled the learners to complete their training successfully.

Martha Lela, a hairdressing graduate, expressed her gratitude to the trainers. “The TVET organized this training on tailoring for women, and we are very happy about it.”

 “All these things that have been provided will support women and children at home and the children who go to school.”

Ana Aluet Makur, another tailoring student who benefited from the  vocational skills training, promised to make use of the knowledge and skills she has acquired in Rumbek market when she gets a space.

“I will do tailoring for my kids, school children, women and everyone who wants their clothes made,” she said.