South Sudan's English Daily Newspaper
"We Dare where others fear"
By Okech Francis
A group of youths who were once notorious in Torit, going about causing chaos among people have stepped back and embraced agriculture, seeking a clean and legal way to develop themselves.
Helped along by groups that encourage behavior change programs in the communities, the youths, over 20 in number, through their group, the Young Farmers Association, are engaging in production of cereals and vegetables, both for sale and consumption.
They believe the engagement in agriculture will empower them and divert their focus from engagement on bad activities, making them become productive members of society through agriculture and thus improving their livelihoods.
Tony Klema, who abandoned a gang group to engage in activities of the Young Farmers Association said turning to agriculture has opened a route of escape from poverty and led to a huge transformation in his life.
“There is an opportunity to excel in life here and I want to tell those still doing dubious activities to turn away and look for better ways of living,” Klema said in an interview. “In agriculture, there is the opportunity of making real clean money,” he said.
Youth Link-South Sudan, a local nongovernmental organization has worked with the youths to ensure their agriculture programs pick up well.
Simon Mborimbuko, the Program Manager of Youth Link-South Sudan noted providing seeds and farming implements to help the youths in their farming.
His organization works towards empowering women and youth in the region through agricultural activities.
“The primary objective is to steer the youth away from idling by the river, smoking weed, playing cards, and engaging in community disturbances,” Mborimbuko said in an interview.
“By uniting these youths under the banner of farming, they are encouraged to actively participate in cultivating vegetables and crops, fostering a sense of purpose and unity among the group,” he said.
Community engagements, already promoted by a high level of unity in South Sudanese cultures provides a sustainable ground for peace, unity and development to flourish among the people, Mborimbuko said.
He points at the way Chinese embrace collective work as a style South Sudanese must embrace to quicken their own development.
A look at China with its developing economy and globalized business landscape, the work culture which is basically respect and unity, deeply rooted in Chinese historical and cultural traditions, plays a pivotal role. Chinese have fundamentals of values aimed to achievement of social harmony and the maintaining of harmonies is more highly valued than an individual’s success.
“The reason why we see china is developing very well is because of the attitude of the people which is very positive towards development,” Mborimbuko said.
Iman Abdallah, the Secretary-General of the Young Farmers Association in Torit, outlined plans to expand activities beyond vegetable cultivation to include animal husbandry, river fishing, and other income-generating ventures.
Acknowledging challenges imposed by a dire economic situation in South Sudan, Abdallah continues to seek better ways of ensuring the agriculture plans of the association progresses.
He is demanding support from partners, including the provision of gumboots and agricultural equipment, to enhance the association’s productivity.
“When we sit down as youths and think positively, the outcome is a surge in development in the community,” Abdallah said.