Finn Church Aid has celebrated the graduation of its fourth batch of trainees consisting of 43 women who successfully completed an intensive training program in tailoring and hairdressing.
The ceremony, held in Mingkaman Town of Awerial County, marked the culmination of five months of dedicated training. Among the graduates were 21 skilled hairdressers and 22 talented tailors, all of whom received startup items for their respective trades, including tailoring machines, courtesy of Finn Church Aid.
Speaking to Radio Tamazuj on Wednesday, Ayen Achiek, a mother of seven children and one of the trainees who completed the hairdressing program, said the newfound skills and knowledge acquired through the training would greatly enhance their socioeconomic well-being.
Ayen shared her aspirations for the future, stating, “Now that we are graduating, we will open our businesses tomorrow. The income we generate will provide for our children and other family members. I am truly grateful to Finn Church Aid for opening our eyes to new opportunities in tailoring and hairdressing.”
She added, “Previously, my knowledge of hairdressing was limited to traditional methods, and I did not have my own salon. I used to work as an assistant in another business. But now, I will be able to start my own business and provide for my seven children, especially since my husband has remarried. Additionally, I take care of my grandmother at home. Now, I will work to sustain ourselves.”
James Chuti Manyiel, the Deputy Executive Director of Finn Church Aid, officiated the graduation ceremony as a representative of the Executive Director and the Awerial County Commissioner.
He commended the successful completion of the training program and encouraged the graduates to utilize their newly acquired skills in tailoring and hairdressing to improve their socioeconomic status and provide for their families.
Manyiel also urged Finn Church Aid to extend their empowerment projects to include youth, ensuring that they, too, benefit from basic skills and knowledge in tailoring and other valuable life skills.
Manyiel added, “This women’s empowerment training in tailoring and hairdressing will not only benefit the graduates individually but will also contribute to the economic activity of the county. The Mingkaman market has tremendous potential to support all these batches, and their businesses can thrive. The market is large, with a sizable population and numerous opportunities for various businesses.”
Hilary Andruga, a representative of the Finn Church Aid South Sudan field office in Awerial, conveyed congratulations to all the graduates. He highlighted that the training spanned five months, from February to July 2023, and received funding from the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland as part of the first phase of the 2023 frame project.
The trainees consisted of 21 internally displaced persons and 22 members of the host community. Tailoring machines and assorted items such as kitenge wax, hard poplins, and soft poplins were provided to support the trainees in starting their businesses.
Andruga also announced that another phase of training would commence on July 3, 2023, in Mingkaman.
The graduation ceremony for the fourth batch of tailoring and hairdressing trainees was attended by community chiefs, the county education director, the county agriculture director, senior state representatives from the county relief and rehabilitation commission, as well as women and youth representatives from Mingkaman.