Pictorial of the graduation ceremony of eight women in catering and Hospitality in Juba on Wednesday 25th Jan 2023. Credit; Patricia John/Eye Radio

The U.S. ambassador to South Sudan honored 8 young women trained in hotel management and hospitality in Juba.

Ambassador Michael J. Adler on January 25, 2023, presented certificates to young women graduates of a U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) activity funded through the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).

This brings the total number impacted under this partnership to 4, 000 young women trained in income-generating skills across South Sudan.

The project is known as the Determined, Resilient Empowered, AIDS-free, Mentored, and Safe program or DREAMS.

It is a World-Wide initiative introduced in South Sudan in 2020 to Support the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief also known as PEPFAR.

The program provides comprehensive HIV prevention services and capacity building for Orphans and vulnerable children including adolescent girls and young women between the ages of 14 and 24.

Yesterday, eight women graduated from the program after receiving a three-month training in hospitality at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Juba.

Speaking during the graduation ceremony, the US ambassador to South Sudan, Michael J. Adler congratulated the beneficiaries.

He says the graduates are among the recent 4, 000 young South Sudanese supported through the DREAMS Project.

“Graduates congratulations and I am honestly happy to be here today, to congratulate the graduates on their accomplishment and to wish them every success in life,” said Ambassador.

“You are the most recent of 4,000 young South Sudanese to participate in the activities supported by the US government, to dreams and achieved,

“I won’t say this is just one piece of adoring support to South Sudanese people whom we are proud to be able to work with South Sudanese people to build a better future for the Country.”

Meanwhile, Marial Cuir, the Director General for the program in South Sudan AIDS Commission, has commended the US government for investing in human resources in South Sudan.

“It’s a day that we should see the deliverable of what had been invested by the US government through the support handed to Jhpiego by USAID,” said Cuir.

“The deliverable is here, we have seen that graduation is not an easy task, and with that the Radisson Blu hotel for building this capacity,

“Other deliverables are seen in the work that is done by this beautiful girl and young woman. Today is the day to see the investment of the American government.”

Johan Mani Jambo, one of the Graduates, said through the Dreams project she is now able to pay her children’s school fees.

“I am so happy, I started by making sandals, and in making the sandals I got some money out of it, which helped me to pay the school fees of my three children. It was not easy,” said Johan.

“I am also happy because all these things are happening through USAID because they are straggling behind us. They didn’t leave us alone. Until we have reached Radisson Blu.”