Innovation Bootcamp Challenges Yei Youths to Solve Community Problems

More than 20 young people in Yei have begun a three-day innovation bootcamp aimed at strengthening their skills in social entrepreneurship, digital innovation and community-led problem-solving.

The training, organised by Koneta Hub, brings together young entrepreneurs and aspiring innovators to explore how technology, business ideas and practical solutions can be used to address challenges affecting their communities.

Koneta Hub is a youth-led organisation in South Sudan focused on technology, digital skills and entrepreneurship education, with particular attention to young people in Yei.

Speaking at the opening of the bootcamp on Wednesday, Central Equatoria State Youth Union leader Aggrey Duku commended Koneta Hub for investing in young people, saying the training could help participants develop practical entrepreneurship and innovation skills.

He added that strengthening the capacity of young people through entrepreneurship and innovation was important in creating opportunities for them to contribute to their communities.

Koneta Hub Executive Director Deneya Denis said the organisation was mentoring the participants with focus on entrepreneurship, mentorship and innovation.

He said young people were operating in an environment where technology was increasingly shaping how businesses are created and managed.

“The priority is to understand the problems that communities are facing and create solutions to those problems,” Denis said.

He added that many people in Yei depend on agriculture but face challenges that could require new ideas, technology and locally developed solutions.

For participant Viola Nyoka, an entrepreneur, the training has already offered practical value. She said she was encouraged after learning how to identify problems affecting businesses and develop possible solutions.

She noted that pinpointing a business problem and finding the right fix was not always easy as it required knowledge, skill and continued learning.

The three-day bootcamp, which began on Wednesday, is expected to equip participants with practical skills they can apply to business ideas and community challenges beyond the training.

Organisers say the programme aims not only to promote entrepreneurship but also to encourage young people to identify local problems and develop sustainable solutions using innovation and available technology.