Aweil West women gain safe space, literacy skills at new Nyamlel Center — Eye Radio

Hundreds of women in Aweil West County now have a dedicated space for skills training and protection, following the handover of the newly built Nyamlel Women’s Centre to local female leaders on Sept. 9.

The Women Association of Aweil West assumed full ownership of the three-room facility, built on a 46-by-25-meter plot in Nyamlel.

The center provides a safe venue for business management, leadership development, and gender-based violence prevention workshops.

Since initial programming began in September 2025, 480 local women across Gumjuer Center, Gumjuer West, Meriem East, Meriem West, and Achana payams have completed training at the site.

Participants are learning basic bookkeeping, pricing strategies, and digital marketing tools to expand small-scale trades and access local credit markets.

European Union Programme Manager Alice Oleya Jino emphasized the strategic importance of the infrastructure for community protection and long-term stability.

“This centre represents far more than a building,” Jino said. “It is a safe space, a place of support, and a symbol of hope for women and girls in this community. Through the ResPEct project, the European Union is proud to support efforts that promote dignity, protection, empowerment, and opportunity.”

German Deputy Head of Mission Nicole A. Hofmann noted that the site provides a permanent foundation for local economic independence.

“Today, we are not simply marking the completion of a building; we are opening the door to greater opportunities for women to build their livelihoods, strengthen their voices and shape the future of their communities,” Hofmann said.

Local women’s leaders highlighted that the physical space protects vulnerable residents while giving women a stronger voice in household and community decision-making. The center also hosts community dialogues engaging men and youth on gender roles to reduce domestic disputes.

GIZ Field Technical Advisor Kenyi Mark Peter Luba confirmed that participants are already applying structured bookkeeping and pricing strategies to manage profits and navigate market fluctuations.

The facility was co-funded by the European Union and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) through the GIZ-implemented ResPEct initiative.