South Sudan News

Minister encourages youth to push for their rights

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The Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, Cirino Hiteng Ofuho, has urged the youth in South Sudan to be proactive in fighting for their rights.

Hiteng made the appeal on Saturday at the launch of the International Youth Day under the theme "Building a Better South Sudan Partnering with Youth". International Youth Day is marked around the world on August 12th each year.

The Minister also discussed a plan to establish a year-long national youth service program.

"We want to establish a national youth service. I think that is something that will benefit our youth who finish from high school and are about to go the university," said Hiteng.

According to the Minister, the compulsory service will provide young people with many skills and educate them in the values of nation building.

"We are meeting next week with the Minister of Higher Education on how to implement this with the Ministry of Defense. If we can establish a campus of up to 10,000 students, then we will bring youth from the ten states, put them together before they go to the university. We will have to embark on this very seriously," Hiteng said.

Hiteng also called for the involvement of youth in the drafting of the new constitution so that they are able to raise issues of importance to young people.

The United Nations Resident Coordinator, Toby Lanzer, urged youth to actively participate in decision making in the country.

"Continue to strive to be involved in important processes in your country. Strive to be involved. Can we be involved in discussions in Jonglei regarding peace? Absolutely you should be striving to be involved and to provide your importance your ideas and your energy for such discussions. One of you mentioned the word sustainability. I am looking at it that you are the sustainability," Lanzer told the gathering.

Meanwhile, some youth called on the government to provide quality education and involve more young people in developmental activities.