Three  youths were recognized and awarded for their exceptional innovative initiatives in a bid to address Gender-Based Violence and Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights challenges in South Sudan.

In a long and nail-biting adjudication by a panel of jurists, the  enthusiastic youth gathered to see how their innovative ideas to address family planning yielded fruits.

Dr. Ademola Olajide, the UNFPA South Sudan Country Representative, emphasized the need for increased awareness and empowerment of youths to effectively address Gender-Based Violence. He reiterated UNFPA’s steadfast commitment to supporting young people through innovative initiatives and advocacy efforts.

Rachel Hakim, the overall winner who bagged USD 2000 expressed joy and gratitude for being recognized for her exceptional efforts  to address Gender-Based Violence and sexual reproductive health and rights. Rachel urged parents to prioritize education for their daughters and to empower them to become future leaders and avoid early marriages and pregnancies.

The first and second runners-up of  the innovation challenge echoed Rachel’s sentiments and called upon the government to support initiatives that enable young girls to access education and fulfill their potential to become future leaders of South Sudan.

Nelson Kwaje, the Executive Director of Scenius Hub, highlighted the importance of providing technical assistance to existing innovation hubs for creating solutions to tackle Gender-Based Violence, sexual reproductive health, family planning, STI/HIV prevention, and child marriage in South Sudan. He commended the awardees for their outstanding efforts in driving positive change in their communities.

The awards ceremony served as a beacon of hope and inspiration. By  showcasing the creativity and dedication of youths in driving positive change in their communities.

Dr. Jollem Mwange, the Executive Director of Impact Health Organization (IHO), underscored the collaborative efforts between UNFPA, IHO, and Scenius Hubs in advocating for girl-child rights, particularly in education and decision-making, to combat early marriages in communities across South Sudan.

The event, organized by UNFPA South Sudan in partnership with Impact Health Organization -IHO and Alela Technologies, saw young talents from all over South Sudan converge in Scenius Hub-Juba to showcase their creativity and dedication to addressing critical issues affecting women and girls. This is a culmination to last year’s pitches that was held at the University of Juba’s UNIPOD.