Over a hundred young South Sudanese graduated in Juba on Friday after completing a month-long mentorship program under the Empowering Youth for Sustainable Futures initiative.
The mentorship program equipped participants with leadership skills and knowledge in climate action and sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) preparing them to champion inclusive and sustainable change in their communities.
Organizers said the initiative reflects a long-term investment in youth leadership, moving beyond symbolic engagement toward tangible transformation.
“Bringing young people together for one day is not enough. We wanted them to learn, reflect, and act. These certificates represent duty, not the end of the journey,” said Saniki Leon Deneki, CESCSN’s Communication Officer.
Among the graduates was Jackson Ladu, a disability rights advocate, who urged society to make education and health services inclusive for persons with disabilities.
“People think those of us with disabilities don’t need to learn about our bodies or relationships,” he said. “That’s wrong. I have the same right to love, to marry, and to be a parent. SRHR must include everyone.”
Representing Amref Health Africa South Sudan, Modong Manuela commended the program for showing how trust and mentorship can ignite youth potential.
“This is only the first step,” she said. “When young people are trusted and trained, they rise with energy and purpose. The change we want starts with them.”
From the Ministry of Youth and Sports, William Lomoro encouraged the graduates to translate their learning into community action.
“A certificate alone means nothing,” he said. “What matters is how you use what you’ve learned to change your community.”
The initiative signals a growing commitment by civil society and development partners to empower young South Sudanese as active agents of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) — shaping a more inclusive, equitable, and sustainable future for all.
