Youths in Rhino Camp cries for Job Opportunities
According to Joseph Geu, the Refugees Welfare Chairperson (RWC) for Odobu Cluster Rhino Camp Madi Okollo District young people living in the camps are seriously struggling to sustain their lives owing to lack of jobs.
South Sudanese youth refugee living in Rhino Camp Settlement in Odobu Zone of Madi Okollo District have expressed their frustrations due to lack of employments, which makes their lives miserable.
According to Joseph Geu, the Refugees Welfare Chairperson (RWC) for Odobu Cluster Rhino Camp Madi Okollo District young people living in the camps are seriously struggling to sustain their lives owing to lack of jobs.
“Life is not easy for the refugees in the camps since our life depend on hard work,’’ Joseph said.
In an interview with Juba Monitor, the RWC 1 indicated that there are qualified youths in various fields and disciplines, very well educated young men and women but with zero access to job opportunities that they can apply for.
“So job opportunities are the greatest challenge to our young people at the refugees’ settlement,’’ he said.
Joseph further indicated that although there are many refugees implementing partners operating within the settlement, many only employ Ugandan nationals leaving no opportunities to qualified refugees.
“Many refugee youths have qualifications for some of the available job vacancies at the camps, unfortunately when they apply, they are even not shortlisted for the interviews,’’ Joseph bemoaned adding that the job market is very competitive for the majority of refugee youths, many of who have limited or no job experiences at all, a prerequisite which see their Ugandan counterparts grabbing the limited opportunities available.
Joseph further expressed that the implementing partners more often than not do not much focus on the refugee youths who are in the settlement and within the settlement areas whenever job opportunities arises. This he said is a worrying scenario that needs to change.
In addition, Joseph observed that when you consider agriculture which is the only available option, the land allocated to the refugees is not quite adequate.
“There is shortage of land to do any meaningful agriculture that can attract extra income. This is because the plots given to the refugees by the Office of the Prime Minister and UNHCR is only 30 by 30 and in some cases 20 by 30. This is not enough for the refugees who are enthusiastic about farming because it is on the same plot that they are required to construct their houses.”
He however encouraged the refugee communities not to lose hope owing to limited job opportunities but to continue exploiting other ways in which they can employ their skills, knowledge and experiences in order to supplement their monthly food ratio which continues to decrease as time goes by.
Geu appealed to the Office of Prime Minister, UNHCR and implementing partners for more help and support to the refugees who are suffering in the camps due to lack of employment and only depends on the diminishing food ratio.
He also encouraged the youths to use wisely the little income they do get from time to time whenever do some jobs available and not waste it in alcohol or other life luxuries.
By Gaaniko Samson Jerry
