Vice President for Gender Youth Cluster Calls for Youth Empowerment

By Fuli Dickens Isaac

The Vice President for the Gender Youth Cluster calls for youth empowerment in South Sudan. This announcement was made during the 1st National Youth Consultative Workshop for Planning, organized by the National Ministry of Youth and Sports, funded by UNFPA. The theme of the event was “A Platform for Youth to Actively Engage in the Planning Processes of the Ministry of Youth and Sports.”

The Vice President for the Gender Youth Cluster, Her Excellency Mama Rebecca Nyandeng De Mabior, urges all citizens to consider youth empowerment as a crucial tool to steer the future of South Sudan.

Nyandeng encouraged the youth to prioritize education if they aspire to secure employment, emphasizing that education is key for individuals worldwide. She also encouraged youths to explore opportunities in agriculture, business, poultry keeping, and other forms of employment to support their livelihoods and families.

Rebecca expressed heartfelt encouragement for youths to think ambitiously and to demonstrate resilience and determination in various sporting activities as a means to promote peace among the youth of South Sudan.

She emphasized that her office, the Gender Youth Cluster, the Ministry of Youth and Sports, and UNFPA will collaborate to help South Sudanese youths achieve their goals.

The National Minister of Youth and Sports, Hon. Joseph Geng Akech, stressed that the mandate of the Ministry of Youth and Sports focuses on engaging youths in developmental activities. He emphasized the importance of seeking consultative ideas to address challenges faced by the youth in South Sudan.

Geng further encouraged youths to actively participate in the first National Youth Consultative Workshop for Planning, emphasizing that it provides a platform for engagement in sports, business, and peace-building to foster harmony among the youth.

He lamented that over 72% of the country’s youths are idle, engaging in activities such as playing cards, gambling, drug abuse, and other unproductive behaviors. Geng urged them to refrain from such activities and work towards the development of South Sudan.

He announced that the Youth Enterprise Development Fund will be a channel to support youth activities in sports, business, and peace implementation.

The two-day consultative workshop for planning, which commenced on Thursday, brought together youths and government officials to discuss ideas and address challenges confronting the youth in the Republic of South Sudan.