Success Stories

Situation/ background:
The Consortium led by Support for Peace and Education Development Programme (SPEDP) in partnership with Women Aid Vision (WAV) has received funding support from the Enabel, the Belgian Development Agency/European Commission to implement the “Enhancing vocational education and training service provision for women, youths and vulnerable groups in South Sudan” project in Aweil and Juba for a period of 24 months. The program aims at promoting inclusiveness in VET by developing the new and innovative VET provisions and job insertion services. It tends to support life-long learning and equitable quality and job-oriented education, with a special attention to education and training opportunities to girls and women. And improving their standard of living through increasing awareness in life related issues and the 10 basic life skills and occupational skills.

Mrs. Awok Chan is one of the Enabel project beneficiary for tailoring in Aweil town. Awok had esteem in tailoring but didn’t know where she can join. Said Awok, when I heard of SPEDP intervention; I informed my husband to allow me to pursue tailoring such that I will support other family demands. I’m pleased to join this initiative which has enabled me to make number of clothes from small to big. She believed after the completion, she can be able to earn money and will afford to other family needs where necessary. Mrs. Awok urged SPEDP and the European Commission to continue with the initiative when there is possibility of funds. She uttered that; some boys, girls and young mothers who were out of schools got engaged with the training such that it can built their resilient and be independent. She further appreciated this initiative and urged women who didn’t acquired should get enroll if there’s possibilities of continuation of the initiative

Josephina Sebit aged 23 years Old is one of Enabel Project bakery beneficiary. She joined this intervention because she doesn’t want to continue and be a burden to her family. She said “Bread baking is a very good initiative to raised money. Most people in Aweil prefer and depend on bread and Kisra more than posho; that means when I completed this training, I will earn adequate amount of money and afford my personal needs. There were few bakeries established in Aweil town to carter for people demands for bread. She further said that, the skills she acquired from the training will help her after completion of the project. Josephina said she learned a lot from the theory which makes the practical part of the project so simple to implement. She urged SPEDP and European Commission to increase the period of training and continue with the initiative if there will be funds. This initiative has improved and encouraged unity among women in Aweil which she did not observed before said Josephina. She appreciated SPEDP and donors for acceded of this project in Aweil town.

Despite covid-19 outbreak, it has led to schools closer which has drove many youth to roam in the street of Aweil. Ngong said, the purpose which motivated him to join electrical training was to acquire skills. He believed that, the resourcefulness of the project will provide work opportunities for him and the colleagues to earn money that will enable them to afford their needs. Mr. Wiel said, he learnt the two ways of electrical connection; the series and parallel which does better with solar installation. He urged youth who doesn’t possess the opportunity to join with them should look for handy work such that it can aid their family a healthy living. He further thanks SPEDP with support from Enabel, the Belgium development agency/ European Commission interventions in Aweil town and urged them to lobby and continue with the vocational education training initiative in South Sudan at large.

Abraham Anyar, Enabel project beneficiaries for Masonry at Information, Counseling & Legal Assistance Center (ICLA) in Maper Akot- Aweil town.

Abraham was idler before SPEDP intervention with Enabel vocational education training initiative in Aweil town. He joined masonry after he got the information from community leaders and the project supervisor during mobilization in Maper Akot. Anyar learnt how to construct and assemble bricks to make a house/shelter for living. He said, with the practical skills he acquired from the masonry training, he will earn considerable amount of money after completion. Mr. Abraham uttered that, engineers in Maper-Akot gets money frequently in construction. He believed that after the completion, he will be able to get opportunities of construction and starts over. He further urged, youth and the people of his area to join vocational education training when the opportunity prevails. Abraham thanks SPEDP and the partner Enabel, the Belgium development agency/European Commission to continue with the initiative of vocational education training and expand it to other states if there will be availability of funds.

Danida Church Aid (DCA) Project Success Story Project Title: Supporting Food Security in Eastern Equatoria State

Situation/Background: The Project “Supporting Food Security in Eastern Equatoria state” is a one year project (Project start date was 1.1.2019 and the project end date is 31.12.2019). The project overall objective was to provide access to food and other lifesaving assistance through cash, market based programming, provision of productive assets for vulnerable households, and increasing the capacities of communities to respond to disasters, in Eastern Equatoria State. This project is aimed at meeting the acute humanitarian needs of the most vulnerable people affected by the protracted conflicts is a way that builds resilience. The project specifically aimed to improved access to food and other basic needs among most vulnerable Households affected by the conflict. Secondly, the project aimed to increase livelihood opportunities and diversity agriculture production among IDPs, retunees and host communities. The third specific objective was to strengthen local markets capacities and functionality in order to achieve this specific objectives SPEDP provided support for the most vulnerable IDPs, retunees and host communities through unconditional multipurpose cash transfer, seeds and tools distribution, fishing kits distribution, support for Village Saving and Association through capacity building and distribution of VSLA kits , support for beekeeping groups, capacity building for the beneficiaries and construction of market structure to support local markets, the project targeted the most vulnerable internally displaced persons, returnees and host communities.

Programme Activities:

• From 16^th to 17^th of May 2019, SPEDP distributed both crops and vegetable seeds and tools for 580 households (this includes 197 Males and 383 Females households, the vegetable seeds distributed includes; onions 50grams, eggplants 50 grams, tomatoes 50 grams, okra 50 grams, the crops seeds distributed includes sorghum 5 kg and sesame 2kg while the tools distributed includes hoes and watering can (1 pc each per households).
• From 14th to 19th April 2019, SPEDP project team in collaboration with the CDC and the local authority carried out labour market mapping. The objective was to find out whether fishing is feasible within the three payams which includes Nimule, Pageri and Mugali payam respectively. The results indicate that fishing grounds are found along the Nile River and along Achwa River. Therefore households who have access to fishing grounds can be targeted for fishing support.
• On 15th of June 2019, SPEDP field project team in coordination with the local authorities and cash distribution committees organized for the fishing groups registration in Nimule
• SPEDP community based facilitator in collaboration with the payam extension workers planned for the farmers training on the 20^th of June 2019.
• From the 21^st of June to 3^rd July 2019, SPEDP trained 119 farmers (29 male and 90- female farmers) from four farmers groups in Bio 1, Longua and Gbugbu and Mugasa village respectively. The people who were involved in the training included the local authorities and SPEDP field staffs. Farmers were trained on the following topics; Site selection for farming, land preparation, planting techniques, other agronomic practices such as weed control, crop rotation, cover cropping, integrated pest management, nursery establishment and management, farming as a business, soil conservation and soil fertility improvement and agroforestry.
• Eight village saving and loan associations were formed, and trained and are currently involved in saving and borrowing of loans. The number of members within the groups is 269 members (21 male ad 248 female members). The total number of groups is nineteen while the total number of members is 578 (23 male and 575 female members). The cumulative saving is 4,210,320 SSP.  The number of loans is 159.  The value of loan outstanding is 2,365,590 SSP. Loan cash in box /hand is 1,844,730 SSP. The social fund is 414,500 SSP.
• SPEDP project team and Juba team in coordination with the local authorities and the cash distribution committees, DCA representatives from Juba office carried out cash distribution from 18^th to 24^th of October 2019 in Pageri, Kit 4, and Olikwi and Mugali payams respectively. 580 households received the cash this includes 197 male headed households and 383 female headed households. Each beneficiary received 12,375 SSP.

Result/ Impact

• The fishing groups were formed within those locations which include Jelei Boma, Olikwi Boma, pageri Boma and Ganzi Boma because the labour market mapping results indicate that fishing grounds are found along the Nile River and along Achwa River.
• 80% of targeted HHs has improved food security as a result of cash transfers.
• 70% of target HHs report reduced use of negative coping mechanisms post cash distribution.
• Livelihood opportunities are increased for vulnerable households, increasing grass-roots resilience.
• 60% of individuals engaged in producer groups reporting improvement of income
• Markets supported in improving community access to goods and livelihood opportunities.
• 70% of market actors reporting improved market functionality at closure of project.
• 80% of trainees reporting improved capacities in business management and book keeping.
• 450 households reporting an increase access to capital due to Village Saving and Loan Association (VSLA) groups.

Sallah el Dud Mohammed is a father of five, 4 boys and 1 girl whose right leg got amputated due to gun bullets. Mr Sallah lost one leg and injured on his right arm. Said Sallah; “I became disable due to conflict, but still taking my family responsibilities at this trying moment. I appreciate Support for peace and Education Development Programme (SPEDP) with support from Danida Church h Aid (DCA), for introducing this initiative here in Anzara. Sallah uttered, the living standard of my family has improved because of this support. In the first distribution I received 11,090 which I bought 1 goat and has produced two (2). I used the other part of the money for family consumption and invest other in agriculture activities and paid children tuition.  This second distribution, my plan will remain the same as the first such that in future when the goats grew; I will sell and be able to afford for my family demands. He urged SPEDP and DCA to persist with this initiative because it has created hope and has normalized the livelihood of the most vulnerable people affected by the protracted conflict.

Mrs. Selina Otto is a beneficiary who lives in Pageri appreciate the cash distribution distributed by Support for Peace and Education Development Programme (SPEDP) with support from Danida Church Aid (DCA). Selina said “this Initiative which is introduced to us by SPEDP is helping people here in Pageri. I’m going to invest this cash to buy charcoal and sell at the market such that it can sustain my family. We don’t have anything that we can depend on to consume, with this support I will be able to buy food and complete my children tuition fees. She further said that, the conflict has affected them and the way of living became difficult because there was no access to other items. Selina thanks the work of SPEDP and DCA and urged them to continue with the support such that it can give vulnerable people living in Pageri hope to stay.

Photo: Mrs. Regina Atung Yoro poses for a photo at her home in Old Fangak of Jonglei State in South Sudan

Regina Atung Yoro is 27 years Old; she is a single mother of four children 2 boys and 2 girls. Regina is a beneficiary of Support for Peace and Education Development Programme (SPEDP) and Food for the Hungry (FH) in Old Fangak. The community in Old Fangak goes for Open Defecation (OD) in the bush which has caused them a lot of sickness. She stressed that “the intervention of SPEDP and FH with Households shared latrines has help them a lot. “My family was the victims of water borne diseases because of drinking contaminated water. I was not able to save little money for other family demands hence all the money goes for treatment. My children suffered with diarrhea to the extent I almost lost them.” This initiative has help in community transformation through the hygiene sessions. The elders defecate in the bush and children do open defecation behind the houses which produces bad smell; said Regina.

Since the intervention of Support for Peace and Education Development Programme and Food for the Hungry, the community got adapted to use of latrines which resulted to less cases of illness and infectious diseases in Old Fangak. Mrs. Atung urged SPEDP and FH to continue with this initiative such that the hygiene practices in the community will improve.

My name is Chol Del Wol , I am living here in Bor Poc now four years since the war broke out. Since I came here in the PoC I didn’t come across these kind of initiative SPEDP and UNDP has brought to us. Women here in PoC has lost hope and always thinking negative but when these initiative was brought I can feel there is change in me because everything is going on well since day one of the training. Life is becoming simple and easy for me because I have learnt how to sew/ design bed shed both with machine and hand. So far, I can make like four in a day and these will earn me money for living and take good responsibility of my family and children. As women here in the PoC, we are very happy for these initiative brought to us by SPEDP and UNDP to transform our lives and hinder economics amongst family. May God bless you and open every possible way forward for your plan to help vulnerable people across South Sudan.

My name is Nyaluak Mabiel, I am doing Carpentry training here in Bor PoC. So far , I have learnt so many like designing and making of church cross, Karbala ( Local made for cleaning up any legumes with stones and sands), and soon we are going to make tables, doors , Windows and many others. I became very happy after joining these initiative and my living standard has change here in PoC because I am always busy here at the center and has nothing to think negative about myself and action to take. I want to thank SPEDP and UNDP for brining these beautiful Programme here in Bor PoC and targeting, that mean they have understand the suffering of women in these imminence war of South Sudan we are the victims. I urge women in other IDPs Camp and PoC to welcome these kind of initiative when it comes to place where they are, because it can equipped them with skills that will enable for better survival when peace is achieve in South Sudan. Peace will prevail so soon and the skills we are getting in these training will help and sustain our life. What Men can do , I have believe and witness Women also can do if they were given the required skills.

Mr. Okiro Ogala Assistant Head Teacher in Presbyterian Primary School said, He is very happy with the initiative because it has makes Teachers to concentrates in teaching which makes children to be active and it has result to changes in performance. “Before this Initiative, we start class at 8:00 am and end at 11:30 am but after this Programme was introduced we start class at 8:00 am and end at 2:00 p.m. which is a big change in our School”. He further said, the number of enrolment has increased from 600 (B=350, G=250) learners before the Programme to 704 (B=397, G=307) after the Programme. Okiro urge the Programme to continue such that it Motivate children to keep enrolling to school next year. He appreciates SPEDP and SSHF for this Initiative.

He further said that, they were longing for it since they are Internal Displace Persons (IDPs) in the area. Mr. Michael said, they had a lot of challenges before the Emergency School Feeding Programme which has resulted to low enrollment and learners drop out from schools. Most family was from Poor family where food was scarce. After the Emergency School Feeding Programme, there was increased in enrollment, attendance improvement and the learners Performance has increased compared to beginning of the year. Michael urged the Programme to continue such that it continues to motivate learners and improved the learning in Melut County of Northern Upper Nile State.

My name is Sunday Richard and I’m fifteen (15) years Old. My parents separated in 2010 when I was still young and I was left with my uncle who was the only one taking my responsibility. When I was in Yei River State before coming to Juba, I was in Primary Six (P.6) and it was my Uncle paying my tuition. My father proceeded to Khartoum after their separation and my mom lived in Juba with my two young sisters. Last year August when the conflict worsen in Yei, Unfortunately my Uncle was murdered and I was left alone don’t even know where to go.
I was in doors with my neighbor; because I know my mother contact I borrowed phone from the neighbor to call and narrate what has happen to my mother. Follow our discussion , she told me to go to taxi park empty handed and ask for my lift to Juba and she will pay the cash when i reach but the drivers refuse to help me due to lack of cash. My tears fall and I start crying thoroughly because I really don’t know what next I’m really going to do. Unfortunately another driver saw me crying, he came and asks the reason why I’m crying endlessly like that; I told him what has happen and the situation I was going through. He and the turn boy pleaded to bring me to Juba and my mom paid their cash after we have arrived. Reaching Juba, situation change from bad to worse because my mom doesn’t have a good job to earn enough for my tuition and I’m yearning to study. She do daily job of washing utensils which is not enough to buy us food so sometimes we sleep with the left-over she is bringing from the restaurant. I joined her in the Job and save up to One thousand and Six hundred South Sudanese pound (1,600 ssp) during my labour in the restaurant for washing utensils. Early this month, I consulted al salaam primary school head master concerning the tuition for upper classes; he told me the amount was three hundred and twenty five south Sudanese pounds (325) per term. After finding out the price is fair and I can afford from the money I have saved; I paid the tuition for three terms and I resume with my education. Though I’m continuing with the Job duties after school to support some of the needs; This Organization Support for peace and Education Development Programme ( SPEDP) and their working partners has help me a lot in their support for the school. The distribution of scholastic materials and porridge school is cooking through their support is helping students to attend class on daily basis and it has also help me a lot because it reduce the cost of scholastic material for me. I wish if they continue with the Programme, my ambition of completing senior four (S.4) will be great achievement because it’s my expectancy.