Ex-combatants who have been demobilized engage in skills training organized by the Southern Sudan Disarmament Demobilization and Reintegration Commission (SSDDRC) for a proper integration into the society.

Betty Tidio attended one of such training workshops and finds out what the Commission has to offer.

The Southern Sudan Disarmament Demobilization and Reintegration Commission (SSDDRC) is offering vocational training for ex-combatants that are going through the reintegration programme of the commission.

The training which started in Juba on June 24th will comprise of male and female participants of different ages. Juma Hassan Patel, who is the program officer of Southern Sudan DDR commission, explains how the training will be conducted.

Clip 1:Juma Hassan Patel

"Basically for the training we have arranged in series that is; the literate, then the limited literate and the non. The arrangement is that we are going to have classes will run from morning and then afternoon. And regarding the program we have already given them the time table."

Juma added that most of ex-combatants have applied for business training while others want to be trained as mechanics and farmers.

Clip 2: Juma

"The most course which is taken by the ex combatants is a small business. One thing during the counselling most of those who took business are the ladies and those who are already somehow old and then some also in the category are still youth. But in our question with them they said they also have a background in business. That's why most of them have to join that economic option."

The participants choose their courses according to their capabilities. Some of the ex- combatants I spoke with explained the reasons for their choices. This was what Sebit and Mary had to share with me

Clip 3: Sebit

"Yes I thought of taking business because our age is now old and there is no any other work that we can do. If you get some thing small you just make for you self a shop and stay so that the children can eat.

Clip 4: Mary

I have taken business because I have broken my leg, and I don't have strength for doing other work, because the strength is all on the leg. If my leg was good I even want to do work."

This training programme is part of a series that has been earlier conducted. Joseph Kosmas Kujo is one of the recipients of the earlier trainings. He has this advice for the new participants.

Clip of Joseph

"These people who are not yet trained, I want to tell them that they should not take business. They should think of work that they can do with their hands so that tomorrow it can help them to get money. If you take money that you want business, the money you get will become less and you will get losses. And if this money is over your mind will remain empty without any knowledge even if you have certificate it will not help you from your problems. If you are doing something with your hands and you have the knowledge, this will be like a bank and you will get money at anytime."

Juma from the DDR commission encourages other ex-combatants to enrol for the next programme in August.

Clip 2: Juma Hassan Patel

Next registration will be in late august and I hope some will turn up. I do encourage all the ex combatants to follow their training as it is planned. After these three months we are going to have training hopefully may be towards the end of November we are going to have a new bunch also."

Ex-combatants who have not attended any form of training are encouraged to register to learn a skill for their future.