South Sudan's English Daily Newspaper
"We Dare where others fear"
By Simon Deng
At least 132 vulnerable women, youth, and persons with disabilities (PWDs) in Torit, Eastern Equatoria state, have received business startup kits from the Korean International Cooperation Agency through the United Nations Development Programme.
Laduma Patricia, a 40-year-old single mother with a physical disability, stated that the business startup kits provided by charitable organisations will significantly boost income for vulnerable communities.
“We have received Information and Communication Technology (ICT) equipment, which will aid in our empowerment. We can engage in ICT work, conduct training, and offer photocopying and document printing services, allowing us to earn a little income from these activities,” Patricia told the Dawn on Friday.
Palm Irimo, a 39-year-old mother of eight who runs a bakery, expressed that the livelihood projects will offer a new opportunity to enhance business income for the most vulnerable communities.
“The work is good, but the machines will help boost the business. We operate as a group, and with this support, our income will improve. This opportunity will also help our children with school fees,” said Irimo.
The community support, which benefited five different categories including an ICT centre for youth and persons with disabilities, two cooperative societies, a bakery, and a tailoring group, is facilitated by the Support Peace Initiative Development Organization (SPIDO) with funding from the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) through the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)’s Peace and Community Cohesion (PACC).
According to Wodcan Saviour Lazarus, the executive director of Support Peace Initiative, this support is set to enhance the household income of vulnerable communities in Torit County, Eastern Equatoria state.
“This is one of the initiatives we are providing to vulnerable communities, and it is genuinely improving their situations. Some groups are so vulnerable that they cannot afford their daily needs,” Lazarus noted.
“When we provide startup kits for businesses, we improve their lives. Without a livelihood, there is no peace. To achieve stability, we must ensure they are fed, their children are in school, and they are in good health. This is about the economy, and that is about peace,” he emphasised.
Angela Ajana Pio, the chairperson of the Torit Parliamentary Caucus in the Eastern Equatoria state assembly, stated that the business startup kits will enhance community activities by improving business incomes.
“As members of Parliament, we are always lobbying for support for vulnerable communities, including women and persons with disabilities. The startup kits will energise businesses, and all groups will become active in their enterprises,” Pio noted.
Romano Oguma, chairperson of the Logire Agriculture Production Cooperative Society, established in 2018, revealed that the 30-member cooperative has helped the community generate income.
“We see hope and progress on the horizon. The cooperative society aims to empower households and generate income. With increased support, people can now transform their products through value addition, which will allow them to sell at more competitive prices,” Oguma explained.
“We will no longer depend solely on the sale of raw products in the market; we will also undertake value addition. Although we were doing it locally, we will now improve our packaging and market connections,” he added.
