By Taban Gabriel
On Thursday, the Multi-Service Training Centre in Juba (MTC) has graduated at least 750 young people in different fields of vocational courses.
Grandaunts received a one-year certificate in Auto mechanics, Electricity, Phone repair, Plumbing and Pipe fitting, catering, hairdressing and beautification, and air conditioning and maintenance.
According to a statistic presented by the Director of MTC Martin Lugala Tumba, 200 of the grandaunts are female while 550 are male and people living with a disability.
The mood at the ceremony was filled with ecstasy as invited guests and grandaunts’ families were treated with humorous jokes by South Sudanese Comedian Ziko.
Some of the alumni who spoke to King News expressed joy and hope after receiving their certificates.
19-year-old Doris Bakhita Elisha, who received a certificate in plumbing and pipe fitting, encouraged and challenged her fellow girls to also join the courses at MTC.
“We should not really look down on ourselves as ladies. There is more in us, and it takes determination and courage to do it,” Bakhita said
“I am really very excited. It feels good to do a course that people think that it is only for men, but I am going to tell you today that we, as women and young ladies, can do it better. As the quote says, what a man can do, a woman can do it better. I am proof of it because I can cut, treat pipes, and do some fittings better than some of the guys,” she added.
Meanwhile, Amour Mayar, 20, who did catering, heartened young people not to give up when faced with hardship but rather to take “such opportunities and acquire free skills from MTC.”
“Things might be hard, yes, but when you get a chance to do such training, don’t undermine them. Do what you can, especially girls out there,” Amour said.
According to Charles 30, who received a certificate in phone repair, some 30% of the beneficiaries are already engaged in different market jobs.
Minister of Labor James Hoth Mai on a Photo with the Graduand
Speaking during the event, the guest of Honor, Minister of Labor James Hoth Mai, thanked the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the Kingdom of Netherlands for funding the training.
“The Kingdom of Netherlands has been continuously helping us, though some of the donors have already left the country. The Kingdom of Netherlands has not gone away from us; some people did,” he said.
Minister Hoth urged the Netherlands’ embassy to continue supporting and cooperating with the government of South Sudan in building a resilient and robust South Sudan.
Minister of Labor Hon. James Hoth Mai addressing the crowd during the Event
“I am sure your money will not be at a loss. You will realize that your money has gone in the right direction by giving these youth skills,” he added.
To the young grandaunts, The Minister urged them to make good use of the skills they acquired from MTC by engaging in what he termed as “Income generating activities.”
“Don’t go and hang the certificate to beautify your house nor let it burn in the kitchen; use it to help yourself and your family,” he said.
The Director of MTC, Martin Lugala, called on donors to support the institution with equipment that will ease their work
“We need printers, photocopiers, those things are very important for us to run a training program. Because without them, it will be very difficult to print training manuals,” he asserted.
The just-concluded courses started in November 2023, according to the MTC Director.
Young people in South Sudan constitute 75 percent of the population, comprising mostly unemployed youth, according to the UNDP’s recent July report.