April 17, 2019 – Last month, the Whitaker Peace & Development Initiative (WPDI) – in partnership with the Education Above All Foundation – conducted its fourth seven-day training workshop for our cohort of youth peacemakers in South Sudan’s Central Equatoria state. Colloquially referred to as Trainers of Trainees (ToTs), the 40 youths are close to completing their year-long intensive training regime and will soon join our already-existing peace force of almost 300 youth peacemakers in the Equatoria region of South Sudan under the guise of the Youth Peacemaker Network, our flagship program there.
The workshop was held from March 16-22 in Juba, the capital of South Sudan, and sought to strengthen the ToTs’ knowledge and skills in areas core to their future work. Sessions focused on conflict resolution, information and communications technology (ICT), and business and entrepreneurship. They also prepared the ToTs to train local youths within their respective communities on those same topics as well as to teach conflict resolution education in schools. It also featured inspiring presentations by WPDI’s Founder and CEO, Forest Whitaker, Naguib Sawiris, the Chairman of Orascom Telecom Media and Technology Holding S.A.E, and special sessions conducted by our new partner – the United States African Development Foundation – on the innovative thinking and creativity necessary to become a successful entrepreneur.
Over the seven-day period, the ToTs made remarkable progress in their understanding of the covered topics as well as in their ability to convey that knowledge to various audiences. During the ICT-related sessions, for example, they practiced how to use and teach others to use technological equipment and programs, such as laptops and Word processing. These skills will undeniably prove extremely relevant in a country where less than 20 percent of the population use or have used the Internet. Through so doing, WPDI hopes to increase connectivity, knowledge, and development opportunities across the Equatoria region; the South Sudanese people deserve to be active in the connected world that is the 21st century.
Although all sessions were well-received by participants, the special presentations given by Mr. Whitaker and Mr. Sawiris were the highest-regarded aspect of the workshop. Mr. Sawiris, in his presentation, discussed the qualities of a good entrepreneur and how exactly he would be supporting small businesses developed by WPDI’s ToTs. He was asked to discuss some of the challenges he faced in business, what exactly constitutes a “successful” business, and about the kinds of enterprises could best benefit the people of South Sudan. Mr. Whitaker talked about the youths and their potential to positively transform their communities, a message that was enthusiastically received by the ToTs. As Marline, from Juba county, noted “before joining WPDI, I thought that there are specific people that work for peace. But after joining the Youth Peacemaker Network, I learned that there is work we can all do. I am already proclaiming peace to the people around me!”
Other ToTs, at the close of the workshop, voiced their anticipation of becoming agents of peace and change within their communities as well. Cosmas Dakundu Fabia, from Yei River county, told us that “WPDI has given me hope and the power to change my life and the lives of those around me through business, conflict resolution, and ICT. The skills I gained in this training will help me start a sound business.” Irene, from Juba county, concurred, proclaiming that “I have become a light to the people of my community as a result of WPDI’s Youth Peacemaker Network. I have the knowledge to help young people and advocate for their rights.”