By Sabri Dibaco
The Chairperson of the Khorwilliang Area Youth Leadership, Emmanuel Charles, has outlined challenges facing young people and the wider community during a consultative meeting chaired by the SPLM National Political Club acting director, Diing Lual Kuol, on Monday.
According to Charles, insecurity remains one of the major concerns in the area. He called for stronger security measures by the relevant authorities, saying improved security is important for creating an environment where young people can participate in economic and community activities.
He also cited limited opportunities for youth training and skills development, saying young people need greater access to programs that can improve their ability to earn livelihoods and contribute to their communities.
Access to clean water was another concern raised during the meeting. Charles said the lack of reliable clean water continues to affect residents and requires greater attention from authorities and development actors.
He further raised concerns over the delay in a community policing initiative that, according to the youth leadership, had been promised the previous year.
The initiative is viewed by the youth leaders as a possible means of addressing both unemployment and insecurity-related risks among young people.
Charles also called for greater motivation and engagement of young people in community affairs.
The consultative meeting ended with a commitment from the two sides to work together and identify areas where the youth require support from the political club.
The meeting comes amid broader challenges facing young people in South Sudan, where access to employment, skills development, and basic services remains an important community concern.
Security also continues to affect communities in different parts of the country, while access to safe water remains a major development issue.
The participants said continued consultation between youth representatives and community leadership would be important in identifying practical ways of responding to the concerns raised during the meeting.
Acting Director Diing Lual said the club was prepared to support initiatives aimed at improving opportunities for young people, particularly in skills development.
“We will open opportunities to you because our commitment is for the betterment of the youth in this area,” Kuol said.
He encouraged the youth to acquire practical skills and work collectively to contribute to the development of their communities.
“We want you to have skills so that you can make an impact, and we have to work together and share things between us. We need to uplift ourselves,” he said.