Support Training for South Sudanese Social Workers

Report of Activity 

July 2015

BAKGROUND

Judith Denya and Lily Ismail are two female South Sudanese social workers - some of the first Social Workers in the World's newest nation, South Sudan. In their countries, they are perceived as significant role models for many women and girls, and are powerful actors of social change. They were offered to participate into a three-week training course on women economic empowerment in Israel organized by MASHAV, the Israeli International Development Agency, and UN Women. Through Global Giving, IsraAID was able to raise $USD 1,547 and the two social workers were therefore able to fly to Israel to attend the workshop and gain valuable skills to empower women back home, in South Sudan.

WHO ARE JUDITH AND LILY? 

Judith and Lily are active social workers, role models, leaders in their communities and work place. Committed to bring positive social and economic changes in their communities and society, they work tirelessly to fight injustice, violence and discrimination.

Judith is a dynamic social worker, with four years of experience in social work. She is currently working for the gender department of the State Ministry of Gender and Social Development of Central Equatoria State in Juba. She is also a program coordinator and case manager. Fully trained by IsraAID since 2012, she has been developing and implementing programs to address Gender-Based Violence in the communities and empower women and girls. She showed particular skills in organizing and facilitating women group activities, discussing issues such as GBV, maternal health, and women empowerment, and helping the women make and sell handicrafts. Judith has the kind heart of a social worker; she can identify cases, providing much-needed counseling and continuing support to the most vulnerable, including survivors of sexual violence. Judith also presents fantastic skills in raising awareness in communities, bringing people together. Her work in camps for Internally Displaced Persons in Juba has brought conflicting tribes together through women group and awareness-raising mechanisms. Judith also trains other service providers to effectively work with GBV survivors. She has an excellent ability to bring positive social and behavioral change in society.

Lily is a charismatic and inspiring female leader, with years of experience working with communities and in gender advocacy. Until 2013, she was the director of gender at the State Ministy of Gender and Social Development in Juba. She is now working for a Church-Based Organization on women and governance. Lily has also been fully trained by IsraAID and, until 2013, led all joint programs between IsraAID and the Ministry, ensuring their full success and sustainability. Lily is an excellent trainer, and leader with the ability to bring political and institutional changes. Her voice has a strong positive impact on people and institutions. She is well respected across all sectors of society in South Sudan, and can therefore be an excellent advocate for human rights, gender equality and peace.

THE TRAINING Objectives

The training took place at the Mount Carmel Training Center in Haifa, Israel from April 20 to May 7^th, and focused on women economic empowerment.

Addressing gender equality and the empowerment of women, as well as increasing attention to economic and social development strategies are globally recognized as critical aspects of sustainable development. Women – especially in rural areas - play a critical role in economies and societies in both developing and developed countries. Across the world, women have proven their commitment and resourcefulness in finding or adapting new ways to improve their own lives, as well as those of their families and communities. 

The training program aimed at contributing to women’s empowerment by exploring aspects of entrepreneurship as a contributor to income generation and employment. The participants were exposed to the various aspects of planning, development, and management of small businesses so that by the end of the workshop they were able to facilitate the initiation, organization, and management of small businesses effectively and profitably.

Achievements 

During the training Lily and Judith and the other 25 participants from all across Africa:

1. Exchanged know-how on different tools for fostering women’s entrepreneurial potential;
2. Widened their knowledge of support systems for small-scale entrepreneurs as a tool for regional and local development;
3. Discussed the position of women entrepreneurs at times of rapid global change;
4. Became familiar with agribusinesses in Israel;
5. Presented a practical proposal for supporting women to start or improve a business in their own settings;
6. Received a certificate confirming their attendance and active participation.

The workshop included professional lectures and visits on the following subjects: 

• Entrepreneurial Training – Business Laboratories – How to start and manage a microenterprise;
• Marketing and branding strategies for small businesses;
• Women in business networking;
• Support systems in Israel and best practices in promoting innovative entrepreneurship;
• Rural Tourism;
• New trends in modern agriculture (technological advancements, nutritional concerns, water/energy management).

During the training, participants were able to exchange different views and opinions and shared their experience. Study visits were organized to observe entrepreneurial initiatives run by women, especially in rural areas. As part of the training, the participants also submitted proposals for business initiatives that they intend to carry out in their communities.

Lily and Judith greatly benefited from the training and brought their new skills and knowledge back to South Sudan, where they are able to integrate them into their existing projects and work.

They were able to strengthen their knowledge on women empowerment, exploring new areas of activities championed by Israel (e.g. women and agrobusiness), while visiting Holy sites across Israel and exploring Israeli history, culture and society.

 BACK TO SOUTH SUDAN 

Lily and Judith are now back to South Sudan, eager to share with their friends, families and colleagues the outcomes of their training and their unique professional and human experience in Israel.

Lily is integrating her new skills into her existing projects aimed at empowering women: she is now accompanying vulnerable women and girls in their efforts to design and implement their own small businesses in their communities. Projects include: handicrafts, goat raising and milk producing, honey production and small shops. These projects are combined with solid awareness-raising and community outreach activities on women empowerment, human rights and Gender-Based Violence.

Judith is currently working with IsraAID (in detachment from the Ministry of Gender and Social Development) as program officer on Gender-Based Violence. She is working on strengthening the existing women group activities she is facilitating in camps for Internally Displaced Persons in Juba, by integrating the models and approaches she has learned in Israel. For instance, she is teaching women and youth groups how to strengthen their income-generating activities, including production and selling of handicraft, embroideries, and beads. She is now able to share her new skills and tools with the women and girls of South Sudan, thus creating a multiplier effect over time.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT 

Lily, Judith and IsraAID would like to express their profound gratitude to the many individuals who donated through Global Giving for this important cause, enabling Lily and Judith to fly to Israel, attend this formative and stimulating training, and discover Israeli history, culture and society, while reinforcing Israel-South Sudan cultural and professional ties.