South Sudan: investment needed to secure new country's future

Gloria learns computer skills in an IT class at Juba Technical High School

MAJOR investment in education, youth employment and vocational skills training is needed to secure the future of the world's newest state of South Sudan, says children’s organisation Plan International.

South Sudan officially becomes a separate country tomorrow after more than 98 per cent of South Sudanese voted for independence in the January referendum.

Plan International Australia chief executive Ian Wishart is in Juba, and will attend Saturday's independence ceremony. He worked in southern Sudan in 1991 providing humanitarian relief during the civil war and major drought.

Mr Wishart said that Plan would invest more than $56 million over the next five years, focusing on peace-building initiatives and improving access to basic education in a country whose infrastructure and economy were battered by more than two decades of civil strife.

Mr Wishart said Plan would spend $30 million over the next three years to ensure children and youth in South Sudan have access to basic and vocational education. More than 50 per cent of South Sudan's 8.5 million people are children and youth.

Plan has been working in South Sudan since 2006, supporting the developmental and post conflict needs of children.

The Director of Plan in South Sudan, Fikru Abebe, said Plan had been expanding its operations into under-served states. This work is currently focused on providing humanitarian response to spontaneous returnees, mostly from north Sudan.

"Most of these states served as the main battleground during the civil war that rocked South Sudan for more than two decades and are currently home to high numbers of children that were injured, orphaned and traumatised. We are seeing an influx of returnees to these areas who require support," Mr Abebe said.

Last year Plan invested more than $6 million rehabilitating and building two Technical and Vocational and Entrepreneurial Training (TVET) centres in Juba and Lainya state.   Further investments will be made this year into building and rehabilitating TVET centers in other states to help establish and revive other learning centres for youth.

"In addition, we will be expanding the Basic Employability Skills Training (BEST) program in Juba and Central Equatoria where Plan has trained more than 600 youth over the past 12 months," Mr Abebe said. "There is a huge response from the youths, especially girls, towards the BEST programme, which helps them ensure employment after graduation. 

"We see BEST as one of the initiatives that will help address the critical shortage of skills in both the private and public sectors in South Sudan."

Plan will soon be partnering with government and other agencies in South Sudan on a community-led sanitation programme in 10 states. This will be in addition to ongoing programs aimed at addressing the humanitarian needs of returnees, including providing food, seeds and farm implements, clean water and education.

"We will also continue to support the provision of access to basic education through the construction of primary schools, equipping and furnishing them as well creating a safe learning environment and building the capacity of Parents Teachers Associations (PTA) to manage the schools," he said.

Find out more about the Juba Technical High School, and watch an inspiring video.

Notes to editors

Ian Wishart is available for interview in Juba via satellite phone.

For more information and interviews:

David Cook
Media Officer
Plan International Australia
Mobile: 0448 816 900
Email: David.cook@plan.org.au