By James Innocent
More than 48 young people from different youth groups in Yei River County have participated in a three-day digital skills training organised by the Internet Society South Sudan Chapter.
The training is aimed at strengthening responsible internet use, digital communication, and online opportunities for young people.
The training, held at the Yei River County Resource Centre, brought together youth representatives, civil society members, government officials, students, community leaders, women representatives, and religious leaders to build digital literacy and promote the safe and ethical use of the internet.
Speaking during the training, youth representative Raymond Dudu Charles said participants gained practical knowledge on digital communication and how to use the internet to access educational, employment, and business opportunities.
He noted that the training also highlighted the importance of responsible social media use, saying many online disputes are driven by misinformation and unethical behaviour.
”We have learned to use social media responsibly, avoid spreading false information, and communicate in ways that promote peace and development,” Raymond said.
He expressed confidence that the knowledge acquired would help young people contribute to reducing cyber-related offenses and encourage responsible digital engagement within their communities.
Civil society representative Yatta Ambros said access to affordable internet remains a challenge for many South Sudanese, limiting opportunities for learning, innovation, and economic participation.
He called for greater investment in digital infrastructure to make internet services more accessible across the country.
The Director of Peacebuilding and Planning for Yei River County, James Wani Banza, congratulated the participants for taking part in the training, describing it as an important investment in youth development and the long-term sustainability of the Yei River County Resource Centre.
Participant Jeniffer Nyoka Justin said the training had improved her understanding of digital communication and responsible social media use.
She said the knowledge gained would help young people use digital platforms for education, entrepreneurship, and professional growth rather than engaging in harmful online activities.
Jeniffer encouraged organisers to provide more training opportunities, saying digital skills require continuous learning to keep pace with changing technology.
She also urged young people to embrace innovation, avoid idleness, and use digital knowledge to improve their livelihoods and contribute positively to national development.
Addressing the opening ceremony, Yei River County Youth Association (YRC-YA) Chairperson Gaga Frank Justin thanked the Internet Society South Sudan Chapter for investing in the digital empowerment of young people.
He encouraged participants to make full use of the three-day program and urged them to use the free internet responsibly by promoting peace, innovation, creativity, research, and education while rejecting cybercrime, hate speech, misinformation, and content that could fuel violence or division.
The training is being conducted at the Yei River County Resource Centre, which was recently renovated by the Whitaker Peace and Development Initiative (WPDI) and equipped with laptops and community internet access.
Organisers said the facility will continue serving as a hub for youth empowerment, offering training in information and communication technology (ICT), entrepreneurship, and peacebuilding.
Meanwhile, the Director of Youth and Sports for Yei River County commended the Internet Society South Sudan and its partners for organising the initiative, describing it as a significant contribution to youth development in the county.
He called for adequate security measures to protect the resource centre, noting that it had previously been broken into by thieves.
The director further urged participants to put the skills acquired during the training into practice and use digital technology as a tool for personal growth, employment, innovation, and community development.