Nyakuron youth embark on inter-generational dialogue

Youth in the Nyakuron residential area in Juba City have embarked on an inter-generational dialogue to fight crime and narrow the gap between them and community leaders.

The initiative that was held in residential areas in Juba brought together community leaders, young men, and women to identify and find solutions to issues affecting them.

Part of the discussion was a plan to end the activities of the notorious group dubbed ‘niggers’, who have been terrorizing residents in the city.

They cited lack of involvement of youth in decision-making as some of the challenges they face., further arguing that them lack of vocational training significantly contributes to the widening gap between the young and the leaders.

“I want to call on leaders to [reach out] the young people in every block in the Juba City vocational training centres so that those who have no skills to become self-reliant can acquire skills in laying bricks, welding, carpentry, and many others,” Ramadan Emmanuel, a youth said.

He added, “They can open youth counseling centres in all the blocks so that any youth with issues can go there for psychotherapy, which is the biggest issue affecting young people who feel they have failed in life in our country.”

Sam Zacharia, Representative of Nyakuron East Quarter Council, commended the initiative to bring together the elderly and young people to discuss what is happening in the area to enhance peaceful coexistence among the community.

“The issue of niggers is the greatest challenge we have across Juba.” Many young people have resorted to bad behaviour we have never witnessed in our lifetimes. I believe bringing us together will solve the issue,” Zacharia said.

“I hope that the government and partners will listen to the demand of youth and at least provide enough vocational training centers so that we can get rid of Nigas,” he added.

Seven groups are carrying out inter-generational dialogue within Juba’s residential areas, being supported by the Agency for Humanitarian Assistance and Development (AHD)to improve security in the city.

“The biggest population is youth and they are facing many problems,” Benson Binga, AHD Programme Officer said, adding that: “They are failing to access education, and many of them cannot do the work they wanted to do.”

Binga called on the government and partners to empower young people to shun violence in South Sudan.