Exclusion is incredibly common in South Sudan and addressing the challenge of unemployment is particularly difficult due to language barriers and inequalities, especially for non-English-speaking youth.

Many young people studied in Arabic before the independence of South Sudan, which established English as the official language.

This transition has made it challenging for many, especially those from remote areas, to keep up with school or meet the language requirements needed for employment. Without strong English skills, they face exclusion from further education, vocational training and job opportunities.

But HOPE and determination is transforming lives

The St. Peter Claver Ecological and Computer Centre (SPCECC), is a vocational education training college in Rumbek and offers a diverse range of courses including basic solar and electrical installation, auto-mechanics, welding, construction, water, sanitation & plumbing, basic Mathematics, and English and Computer Skills.

The English program addresses the barriers young people face by helping youth improve their English literacy and communication skills giving them a better chance to succeed in education and the job market.

The springboard programme is about supporting passionate students seeking to upskill and build a better future for themselves and their families.

This is Angelina’s story:

My name is Angelina Makuei Majook. I am a 29-year-old South Sudanese woman from Warrap State, born and raised in Sudan. I completed both my primary and secondary education there. I am married and have four children: three boys and one girl. My eldest son is currently in Primary Seven, and I live with my husband in Rumbek.

In 2005, my family and I returned to Wau, South Sudan, after the war and I continued my education in South Sudan until 2011, when we gained independence.

At that time, South Sudan switched its curriculum from Arabic to English, which made it challenging for me to continue my studies. I struggled to catch up with the last group of students sitting for the Sudan Leaving School Certificate.

Luckily, I achieved good results and was later admitted to the university at the College of Economic and Social Sciences, where I majored in accounting. However, the transition was difficult, and I sought English courses to improve my skills but couldn’t find any. My first-semester results were poor due to my English.

“I began to lose hope for my education and convinced myself that it was the end of my journey”.

Feeling discouraged, I began to lose hope for my education and convinced myself that it was the end of my journey. Fortunately, my husband supported and encouraged me to persevere. He urged me to keep searching for an English course to enhance my skills.

I even considered returning to Sudan to complete my studies in Arabic, which I understood better, but leaving my young children with my husband for four years posed another major challenge.

After moving to Rumbek with my husband, I found a job at a local community radio station owned by the diocese, where I could utilize my Arabic language skills. Unfortunately, my attempts to study while working at the radio station were unsuccessful due to my difficulties with English.

I had always dreamed of becoming a journalist, but the language barrier made me pursue something more practical like accounting. At that point, I felt hopeless and began to think that my education journey was a waste of time and resources.

Finally, after receiving advice from a friend, I was able to enrol in an English course at St. Peter Claver and feel much more confident speaking English.

This course is incredibly helpful and is exactly what I had been looking for all these years. If I had known about it sooner, I wouldn’t have had to put my studies and work on hold.

I am truly grateful for the support from the Jesuits learning program and the dedicated fathers for providing us with this learning opportunity. May God bless them for their efforts to impact and change the lives of many young men and women in desperate need.

I am hopeful about this course; it is divided into several stages, and I am eager to complete all the levels so that I can return to my college studies and work in radio.

Working in radio and the media has always been a dream of mine, and I love it!

To find out more about how we are supporting amazing people like Angelina, click on our education tab or visit: iji gifts to purchase gifts like scholarships and school kits for children that truly change lives!