The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), in partnership with local civil society group TOCH Organization, on Thursday handed over a newly constructed women’s centre in Mayath Payam of Cueibet County, Lakes State, aimed at supporting women’s economic empowerment and psychosocial well-being.
The facility, constructed by ODhia Construction under the Peace in Practice project, was funded by SDC and the Peacebuilding Opportunities Fund (POF) and implemented by TOCH Organization in partnership with Peace Canal. The two women’s centres being built under the project, including another in Maper Payam, cost a combined $50,000, project officials said.
The centre will provide women and girls with a safe space for meetings, psychosocial support, skills training and income-generating activities, including tailoring, bead-making and vegetable production.
Rebecca Cholhok Mayom, chairlady of Joth Mayar women’s group in Mayath Payam, welcomed the project, saying the new facility would strengthen women’s activities across the area.
“The office is now built in Mayath Payam headquarters, which serves five sections—Wat, Pagok, Pathiang, Kong-ngor and Joth,” she said.
She appealed to development partners to provide a water source to support irrigation for vegetable gardens.
“We grow vegetables to sell in the market so we can buy clothes and pay school fees for our children,” she said. “Women here also make traditional beads, sew bedsheets and tailor clothes for the community.”
Head Chief Sultan Chol Machiek Ayol said the centre would provide women with a permanent place to organize their activities.
“We, as chiefs, allocated this land to the women because it belongs to the community,” he said. “We hope the government and humanitarian organizations will continue supporting them.”
Mayath Payam Administrator John Puoric Agar described the handover as an important milestone for the community, saying the centre had already encouraged greater participation by women in local decision-making.
“It has changed how women conduct meetings and make decisions independently,” he said.
He called for the facility to be fenced and expanded, and appealed for support to provide equipment for processing lulu oil and producing soap.
“If the machinery is available here, women will not have to travel elsewhere to access soap production,” he said.
Marco Madut, Executive Director of TOCH Organization, said the women’s and girls’ friendly space was designed to offer psychosocial support and protection services, particularly for survivors of gender-based violence.
“Women attend weekly psychosocial support sessions where they discuss coping mechanisms and challenges such as domestic violence and other protection concerns,” he said.
Each group consists of about 30 women who participate in a three-month programme before another group joins, he added.
Madut said the project also supports livelihood activities, including bead-making, tailoring and village savings and loan associations (VSLAs), to help women generate income.
The initiative is being implemented in six counties—Cueibet, Rumbek Central, Rumbek East and Rumbek North in Lakes State, as well as Tonj South and Tonj East in Warrap State.
He said additional support was needed to fence the centre and install a water point, noting that these were not included in the original project design but had emerged as priorities during implementation.
“The government has allocated this land permanently for the women of Mayath, but we cannot meet all the needs alone,” Madut said. “We encourage other development partners to join us in supporting the women.”
He added that each centre would receive 30 chairs and livelihood materials in addition to the construction of the facilities.
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