![\"Youth](\"https:\/\/www.wpdi.org\/app\/uploads\/9d580e3a-681b-4308-9782-fcb41a04814a-750x500.jpg\")
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March 1, 2019\u00a0<\/strong>\u2013 Recently, in Juba, the Whitaker Peace & Development Initiative (WPDI) – in partnership with the Education Above All Foundation – took a group of South Sudanese that we are preparing to become peacemakers in their communities under our flagship program, the Youth Peacemaker Network (YPN), through an intensive week of training. The YPN aims to establish grassroots cohorts of mediators and entrepreneurs that drive positive change in vulnerable and violence-affected areas. For the 37 youths in the workshop, this was their third training since we launched the YPN in Central Equatoria in September, their home area in South Sudan. Once trained, this new group will be part of our peace force that already numbers 300 young peacemakers who foster peace and reconciliation in and amongst communities with the support of WPDI.<\/p>\n The workshop was conducted from February 16-22 and sought to further educate participants in areas including peacebuilding, conflict resolution education (CRE), information and communications technology (ICT), and business and entrepreneurship \u2013 all core to their future work. Sessions on peacebuilding and CRE focused on conflict resolution and management, effective communication techniques, and reconciliation. The ICT training was provided by the ICT Society \u2013 South Sudan and covered Internet navigation, how to use email as well as social media, and how to create inspiring online content. As for the business and entrepreneurship training, they learned financial planning, projections, and general business skills.<\/p>\n In reflecting the mood of the youth participants in the workshop, Alex Lodongo, a trainee from Lainya county noted, \u201cI now feel empowered and able to proclaim messages of peace, forgiveness, and reconciliation in my community.\u201d Vicky Angelo, an aspiring peacemaker from Terekeka county, agreed, telling WPDI how \u201cnow, I can write emails, post on social media, and use my computer to obtain vital information for my business. The workshop has also enriched my network of like-minded friends who inspire and support me with productive ideas.\u201d Emmanuel Karaba, a young talent from Yei county, also found the business and entrepreneurship sessions helpful. For him, \u201cWPDI\u2019s session on business and entrepreneurship equipped me with the skills required to help my business succeed. I have learned to save, be patient, and have proper record keeping which I believe will help my business prosper.\u201d<\/p>\n At the end of the workshop, the trainees sat for a series of assessment exams in each subject area. These exams were designed to help WPDI evaluate their progress and address the gaps identified in the process.<\/p>\n The group of peacemakers-in-training was joined by a group of four graduates from the YPN we have deployed within the Kiryandongo Refugee Settlement in Uganda. They were refugees who decided to move back to their country and that we decided to recruit as educators for our program on conflict resolution education in schools in Juba. The training helped strengthen their skills and share their experiences as more experienced peacemakers with their fellows. Their participation in the workshop was key to demonstrate our graduates are resources that we can mobilize on the ground in a proactive and dynamic way.<\/p>\n![\"CRE](\"https:\/\/www.wpdi.org\/app\/uploads\/63152bce-97eb-4a77-a6cd-9d2b79ae4888-750x563.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"CRE](\"https:\/\/www.wpdi.org\/app\/uploads\/b178dfaf-cf9c-4cba-962f-e5262514c3af-750x563.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"ICT](\"https:\/\/www.wpdi.org\/app\/uploads\/deb29300-bc83-49cb-8a42-6ad389d10fdc-750x563.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"Business](\"https:\/\/www.wpdi.org\/app\/uploads\/6b973367-c948-4928-b91c-324cf3918f10-750x563.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"Last](\"https:\/\/www.wpdi.org\/app\/uploads\/c12865b4-271e-42b8-a01e-2cd4786783a3-750x563.jpg\")
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