Yei River County on Tuesday launched the construction of a modern Youth Multipurpose and Development Centre in a major step toward promoting youth empowerment and community development.
The project, initiated by the Office of the Yei River County Youth Association, is supported by the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) through its Quick Impact Project and is being implemented by the Support for Peace and Education Development Program (SPEDP).
Speaking during the launch, Gaga Frank Justin, chairperson of the Yei River County Youth Association, described the project as a major achievement for the youth and said the facility will include a conference hall, a three-room office block and other key facilities.
“As an office, we are very grateful for this milestone. For a very long time, the Yei River County Youth Association has been operating from temporary offices, but this time we are very grateful to see that we are going to have a permanent office for the youth in Yei. I want to first extend my thanks to the Yei River County authorities for making the land available to us. I also want to thank our partners for supporting this project proposed by the youth office. This project will run for only six months and includes a conference hall, an office block, a VIP toilet block, a kitchen and solar panels. I hope all these will come together at the end.”
Representing SPEDP, Engineer Lawrence Achong said the construction would take six months and called for proper management of project resources to ensure the successful completion of the work.
“The project that we have brought here is funded by UNMISS, and SPEDP is the implementing partner. This is a project for the community, and you are all responsible for it. This work will produce a modern building, and no workers will come from outside; the people of the community will carry out the work. As the work goes on, people should be very careful in managing the funds so that this project can be completed. The project will run for six months. It has come at a difficult time, as the weather is changing so fast.”
Speaking on behalf of the elders from the five payams of Yei River County, Anthony Diko described the project as timely and impactful, saying it would provide opportunities for mentoring, training and empowering young people. He called on the community to fully support and protect the project for the benefit of future generations.
“It is important that this centre is built because it will bring young people together to conduct training so that the youth are kept busy. We, as elders and chiefs of Yei, will fully support and welcome the project.”
Asiki Moses, a social activist for persons with visual impairments, urged the engineer to ensure the facility is accessible and inclusive for persons with disabilities, especially young people.
“We need this building to be inclusive so that youth with disabilities can access it. The design of this building should ensure that every young person can access it. The government of Yei River County should monitor this project from beginning to end.”
Isaac Peter Zakayo, the Inspector of County Local Government, welcomed the project on behalf of the county government and praised the partners, especially UNMISS, for supporting the initiative through its Quick Impact Project.
“I am very happy to see that the UNMISS Quick Impact Project has been brought to the youth of Yei River County. We are about to move the youth from their current facility. We have about eight local government administrators who have been transferred to Yei. I want to appreciate the partners and the landowner who has made this place available for our youth to have a permanent facility.”
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