How to get South Sudan’s youth back to work?
Vocational schemes are urgently needed by South Sudan’s young people, who make up the bulk of the country’s 8.5 million people population. Those lucky enough to work often have poorly paid or even dangerous jobs.
Alfred Gworit (24) is a computer science student at Juba University who drives a Boda Boda (motorcycle taxi) during his free time to earn a living. Our work on the roads is difficult but it is the only way for us at the moment‚” he said.
Boda Boda (motorcycle taxi) drivers wait for clients at a market in Juba.
As well as the risk of road accidents, Boda Boda riders complain of extortion by traffic officers and robbers disguised as passengers who injure or kill the driver before fleeing with their machines.
Gworit’s fellow drivers argue that it is hard to get a job in a country where ethnic links and connections are put above qualifications.
It is not easy to get a job in public offices unless you know somebody there. They ask, 'What is your name? what is your tribe? and where do you come from?',” said Wani Godfrey, sitting on his motorcycle waiting for clients under the hot sun.
Despite the nation’s financial problems, Minister for Youth, Sports and Culture, Cirino Hiteng Ofuho, says it plans to establish a national youth service programme in response to the problems affecting the group.
Cirino Hiteng Ofuho, Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture in South Sudan.
Hiteng said the planned one-year-long programme would be compulsory, designed to provide young people with vital life skills. If we invest in them, we can be sure the country can prosper,” he said.
There have been a variety of training programmes already created. Last July, on International Youth Day, the nation held a two day conference under the theme: Building a better South Sudan: Partnering with Youth.”
Since 2005, development partners such as UNDP, GIZ, UNICEF, UNHCR, Japanese Centre for Conflict Prevention (JCCP), among others have supported youth training programmes targeting former combatants.
Under its Community Development component, Norwegian People’s Aid (NPA) runs a vocational training centre in Yei that offers courses in tailoring, carpentry, computer training, brick making and building for beneficiaries drawn from all states of South Sudan.
But not all of these projects work without sparking some complaints. Jonglei State youth chairperson, Solomon Pur complains that some UN agencies run short-term projects that end up not addressing needs of the youth. Instead, he calls for programmes that equip his peers with skills to earn a living.
The United Nations Resident Coordinator, Toby Lanzer stresses that working with young people is one of the five priorities set by UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon during his second term of office.
Vice President Riek Machar (right) listens to an automobile repairs instructor at MTC Juba during the launching ceremony, October 29.
Lanzer said the role of youth cannot be underestimated in shaping and contributing to communities’ development.
A Training Centre in Juba was recently re-opened by the Vice President, Riek Machar Teny, equipped with modern machines with support from the Japanese government. Among its training programmes, the centre is expected to teach automobile repairs, ICT, carpentry, electrical installation and building skills.
Addressing guests at the launching function, the Vice President expressed hope that the centre will facilitate job creation and he urged citizens to change their mindset and to respect manual jobs.
The only job one should be a shamed of is criminal activity. Most of the infrastructural work is monopolised by foreigners. This is a nation that needs a lot of construction and this Multi-Service centre is a facility that will give people skills to do the work‚” said Machar.
Acting Minister for Labour, Public Service and Human Resource Development, Kwong Danhier Gatluak hailed the contribution of US$ 40 million by the Japanese government for the rehabilitation and stocking of the centre.
A notice board in Juba displaying vacant positions.
He stated that the modern sets of equipment are intended to empower youth with necessary skills adding that expectations of South Sudanese have been high since the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement in 2005.
But many continue to hope that training schemes go hand in hand with a more dynamic job market. These days the shortage of good jobs is a harsh reality faced by young job hunters. Young people carrying their academic papers in envelopes spend their days moving from one public notice board to another in search of job advertisements from non-government organisations and private business.
At the UNDP notice board along Ministries-Juba road, Amude Mary, who left school in 2007, is among a crowd of people scanning the job advertisements.
She explains she has worked under short-term contracts with non-governmental organisations, where she earned peanuts”.
Amude Mary
Her previous job at South Sudan Breweries Limited lasted three years and her contract ended abruptly last month after she wrote to management asking for a pay increase and better working conditions.
We were working 12 hours a day or night without rest, carrying heavy things. When you are sick or have a domestic problem they don’t understand, even if you ask for a two-days off. There was no overtime,” she said.
Authorities note that unemployment remains a key challenge as young people are left on the streets and, in the worst case, succumb to crime such as drug abuse, theft and violence.
Unemployment is also touted as a root cause of social ills like cattle raiding, inter-tribal conflicts, banditry and joining militia groups.
