The Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO) began delivering food products to roughly 200 kids in State Wau, Western Bahr el Ghazal, on Wednesday as a start-up package for their small enterprises.
The International Group for Migration provided assistance to CEPO, a national civil society organization (IOM). Among the commodities are maize flour, sugar, beans, biscuits, salt, cooking oil, onions, rice, and wheat flour.
During the distribution, the CEPO program manager in Wau Franco Jonh Unango told the reporters that the program was started in 2020 but was impeded by Covid-19.
“Today, we are sending supplies to stores, particularly those in residential neighborhoods.” “We launched this initiative in 2020 during the Covid-19 epidemic with help from the IOM to the CEPO organization,” stated Unango.
He went on to say that the receivers of the products are repentant criminals who consented to be taught by CEPO.
“Our aim was the youngsters of the so-called ‘Nigers'” (a criminal gang). We began working with them in various sectors for three months, while others received economic training. They were around 23 groups, and today we began with store owners in Nazareth, with the aim that they would begin operations tomorrow,” Unango continued.
Unango indicated that this is the program’s initial phase and that they are actively trying to involve the youngsters who were unable to attend the training.
He encouraged young people to create firms in order to profit and guarantee that the start-up products are advantageous to them.
“We are quite grateful for their assistance.” We had the business concept but were unable to carry it through due to a lack of resources. So we appreciate IOM for their assistance in providing us with all of this, and we hope to make it,” said Kevin Effisio, one of the recipients.
Cornelio John, another young guy who collected his goods in the Jebel-Kheer residential neighborhood in Wau town, praised the provision.
“First and foremost, let me thank God and the organization that provided the supplies to us. We are remaining in Jebel-Kheer, and we appreciate them for bringing us business stuff to conduct business that will benefit us in the future,” he added.
