180 students graduate from STEMpower digital skills program

Author: Madrama James | Published: 13 hours ago

Officials and students pose with their certificates during a graduation ceremony – photo credit: Madrama James / Eye Radio.

STEMpower South Sudan has awarded certificates to 180 students who completed a four-month Digital Skills Program conducted across its six STEM centers nationwide.

The training was held in Juba, Aweil, Yambio, Abyei, Rumbek, and Wau from February 14th to June 7th, 2026.

The curriculum covered introductory ICT skills, Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and internet navigation. Thirty of the graduates are from the University of Juba.

Speaking during the graduation ceremony in Juba on Saturday, Professor Pauline Riak, Chairperson of the Board of Directors of STEMpower South Sudan, said the key goal is to help young people achieve economic independence through skills development.

“This is the second cohort of graduates. Over 500 young South Sudanese men and women from across the country are gaining exposure to digital skills and innovative methods of livelihood,” Riak said.

She added that the program is designed to help young people turn their skills into opportunities for economic empowerment and a better future.

Lucy Biel, the Executive Director of STEMpower South Sudan, said the training covers several fields including digital skills, robotics, and artificial intelligence.

“We are celebrating the graduation of 180 students. The rest of the students are located in Rumbek, Aweil, Yambio, Wau, and Abyei across six STEM centers. The goal is to graduate approximately 540 students in total,” Lucy said.

She added that more than 350 students have already graduated since the program began.

Speaking on behalf of the graduates, Mary James Yom Dut said the training has equipped them with practical skills for community development.

“We have completed all the packages. With this knowledge, I am ready to return to the community and offer support,” Dut said.

She also urged parents to support education and discourage early marriage.

“My message to parents is to stop child marriage and provide more opportunities for children to learn,” he added.

Larissa Beutler, Program Manager at the Swiss Cooperation Office in Juba, said the most important outcome of the training is the opportunity it creates for young people to build their future.

“The future holds great promise, and I believe you will achieve many wonderful things whether within your communities, your families, by starting a business, working for another organization, or seizing opportunities like scholarships, travel within the continent, or even internationally,” Beutler said.