Empowering Youth Voices: CODEP Hosts National Strategy Workshop for Peace and Development in South Sudan
Empowering Youth Voices: CODEP Hosts National Strategy Workshop for Peace and Development in South Sudan
By Joseph Ernesto
The Catholic Organization for Peace and Development (CODEP) has organized a two-day consultative meeting for about 62 youth in Yambio capital of western Equatoria state for the development of a national strategy on youth, peace, and security.
The two-day consultative meeting has been organized by CODEP with support from UNESCO the funding partner through the Community Intuitive Development Association (CIDA) to map out and identify youth groups and the existing peace negation fora across the country.
In his opening remarks, the director of CODEP Rev. Fr. Mbikoyo Charles welcomed the initiative stressing that it is very vital for the youth to express their concerns regarding the peace process in the Republic of South Sudan adding that most youth are engaged in the conflict in the country.
He encouraged the participants to actively participate in the workshop to come out with positive resolutions to the problems that are affecting the young people in South Sudan.
For her part, Cecilia Anigunde minister of gender, child, and social welfare of WES and double as the acting minister of peacebuilding in western Equatoria advised the participants to fully attend and consider the importance of the workshop to carry out peace activities for youth development in the South Sudan.
On the other hand, Mr. James Muorwel the program officer of UNESSCO urged the youth to consider the workshop as a South Sudan initiative with support from its partners, not a foreign thing but rather to empower the youth on peace processes.
The Social Wing of the Diocese of Tombura-Yambio, also known as the Catholic Organization for Development And Peace (CODEP), exists to promote socio-economic development and peace under the auspices of the Diocese.
In attendance were different COS in Yambio, government officials, and security organs.
