A national organization, Active Citizen South Sudan (ACSS), in partnership with the Norwegian People’s Aid (NPA), on Tuesday donated canoes and fishing nets to five groups comprising 20 women who survived gender-based violence (GBV), in Pakur in Unity State’s Rubkona County.
Gai Makkiew, the ACSS program manager, told Radio Tamazuj that the donation is a start-up to economically empower and support the GBV survivors in generating incomes to improve their livelihoods. He added that the boats will also be used to rescue and transport other GBV survivors to safety from flooded areas within Rubkona and Guit counties.
“ACSS has so far conducted three women-led forums on GBV prevention, protection, safeguarding, and awareness in the Pakur resettlement area. The forums provided a safe space for survivors to share their past experiences, and offered pro bono services, psychosocial support, and trauma healing,” he said. “This initiative aims to empower GBV survivors in Pakur. We came here today to fulfill your request that the only things you need to support your livelihoods are the canoes and fishing nets.”
“The safety and the management of the canoes is solely your responsibility,” Makiew added.
Thiyang Rieng, one of the beneficiaries, said she was thrilled to see the distribution of canoes happening in the Pakur resettlement area.
“I remember when we requested you to support us with canoes instead of dignitary kits,” she reminisced. “We intended to use these canoes for both transportation and fishing.”
For his part, Michael Gorjin Kuol, Project Coordinator, Women and Youth Rights at Norwegian People’s Aid, said the donation will improve the livelihoods of the women.
“We are proud to work in partnership with Active Citizen South Sudan in Unity State. These business start-up kits are sustainable and will support the GBV survivors in generating incomes to boost the economy for their livelihoods,” he stated. “They will also use the canoes as a means of transporting survivors in flood-affected areas, where vehicles cannot reach within Rubkona County.”
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