Across South Sudan, where many young women face poverty, interrupted education, and limited opportunities, hope is being woven one stitch at a time. Through the AJAN Building Resilience in Women and Young Girls in Africa (BRWGA) project, implemented by the Multi-Educational and Agricultural Jesuit Institute of South Sudan (MAJIS) in the Diocese of Rumbek, lives are being transformed as vulnerable young women discover new possibilities for their future.

The initiative is currently empowering 20 young women and girls with practical vocational skills that not only restore dignity but also open pathways to self-reliance and sustainable livelihoods. More than a tailoring course, the programme embodies AJAN’s commitment to accompanying those at the margins, especially young people, by providing opportunities that inspire hope, nurture resilience, and enable them to become active agents of change within their families and communities.

Throughout the intensive training programme, participants are introduced to the fundamentals of fashion, design, and tailoring. By combining classroom instruction with practical, hands-on experience, they are gaining the confidence and technical expertise needed to build successful livelihoods in an increasingly challenging economic environment.

Behind every garment sewn is a story of resilience. Behind every new skill acquired is a young woman reclaiming her confidence, rediscovering her purpose, and envisioning a future filled with opportunity.

One such story is that of Hellen Apen.

“My name is Hellen Apen, and I am 20 years old. I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to learn tailoring skills at MAJIS. Before joining, I did not know how to operate a sewing machine, take dress measurements, or sew a dress. Today, I can confidently do all these things. The skills I am acquiring will transform my life, enabling me to generate income by making and selling different clothes. Attending this training has been truly worthwhile. Recognizing the value of these skills, I encourage other young women to seize such opportunities whenever they arise.”

For Hellen, the training represents more than vocational education—it is a pathway to economic independence and a renewed sense of confidence.

For Tabisa Abeny, the programme has restored hope after years of disappointment.

“My name is Tabisa Abeny, I am 20 years old and come from a family of nine children. Although I passed my P8 National Examinations, I could not continue to senior secondary school after sustaining an injury while working in our family garden. For a time, I felt hopeless. Today, I am grateful for the opportunity at MAJIS to learn tailoring. Participating in the kitenge fashion show at St. Peter Faber Primary School renewed my confidence and sense of purpose.

The skills I am gaining will allow me to design and sew clothes for both personal use and for sale, creating a source of income. With this resilience, I will be able to support my parents and, in the future, my own children when I get married. I encourage other young women and girls to embrace such opportunities, as they are pathways to empowerment and self-reliance.”

Her journey illustrates how investing in young women creates ripple effects that extend beyond the individual, strengthening families and contributing to more resilient communities.

Khamisia Awet’s story is another powerful reminder that opportunity can restore dreams once thought lost.

“My name is Khamisia Awet, and I am 19 years old. I dropped out of MAJIS Elementary School in 2021 because my uncles did not allow me to continue. While my brothers and sisters are fortunate to study at St. Peter Faber Primary School, I felt left behind. In 2024, I joined a training program at MAJIS in crochet garment making, and later began learning tailoring in 2026. These skills have strengthened me, even in my daily household chores, and have given me confidence, determination, and hope. I now believe I can generate income to support my parents and, in the future, my own family. I am deeply grateful for the support provided through the AJAN-MAJIS partnership, which has uplifted my life and restored my sense of purpose.”

Stories like these reflect the heart of AJAN’s mission across Africa: accompanying those on the margins with compassion, practical support, and opportunities that restore hope. By investing in young women through education, skills development, and human formation, AJAN is helping to break cycles of poverty while enabling participants to become self-reliant, confident, and capable of shaping their own futures.

The BRWGA project is not simply teaching tailoring—it is nurturing resilience, restoring dignity, and empowering a new generation of women who will become entrepreneurs, caregivers, community leaders, and agents of positive change. Each young woman who learns to stitch a garment is also stitching together a brighter future for herself, her family, and her community. As these 20 young women continue their journey, they stand as living testimonies that when hope is matched with opportunity, lives are transformed. Through partnerships such as AJAN and MAJIS, the seeds of resilience are taking root in South Sudan, proving that even in the face of adversity, empowerment, dignity, and hope can flourish.

By, Fr. Wanyonyi Eric Simiyu SJ.,

Director, Multi-Educational and Agricultural Jesuit Institute of South Sudan (MAJIS).