The ninth batch of youth who have received training in different fields has graduated from a vocational centre run by Republic of Korean peacekeepers in Bor after completing a 20-week hands-on curriculum.

52 students, among them 11 girls, acquired skills in agriculture, carpentry, welding, construction, English language, bakery and electricity.

“We are the light of South Sudan,” proclaimed Achol Leek, a graduate of the Bakery class who believes that she is the only hope for her family.

Achol dropped out of school after she lost both parents. Peacekeepers from the Republic of Korea Horizontal Military Engineering Company facilitated different packages of technical skills training that has given her hope that she may find a job to keep food on her family table, and earn enough money to get back to school.

“We thank Korean peacekeepers because they have made us the future of South Sudan,” said Agok Quinine Deng who strongly believes that she will be hired by the best hotels in town for her all-embracing skills in bakery.

Local authorities in Bor, Jonglei area, confirmed that graduates of Hanbit vocational centre will be employed on temporary basis as agricultural extension workers in the area’s 17 counties until a new budget is passed. The rest will have to compete in the open market economy.

“We have vacancies and if they are willing to go to the 17 counties, they will be employed,” said Jonglei Agriculture Minister Mayen Ngor Atem, while also adding that the graduates will be useful to the country and, especially with peace coming in, there will be lots of work.

The students have constructed a French tower to exhibit the skills that they have earnt. More importantly, they also built Cheomseongdae, an ancient Korean astronomical observatory built over 1400 years ago, still standing without any damages through the years.