YOUTH & FINANCE POST EVENT REPORT
Public Discussion Welcome
Chilombo Olga Priscila RDJ Group Executive: Operations Ms. Priscila opened the event with an introduction to the RDJ Group and their service offerings. The "RDJ Group”- a group of companies consisting of the Consulting and the Publishing arm. RDJ Consulting provides advisory services to both the public and the private sector and carries out projects pertaining to the energy and sustainability landscape across this country, the SADC region, and beyond our continent. Meanwhile, RDJ Publishing, which was responsible for hosting the ‘Imagine The Future: Youth & Finance’, is a 100% Namibian-owned and operated publishing house with a wide range of publications such as the flagship “RDJ Briefing” publication, as well as thought leadership events of under the theme “Imagine The Future” series. In these series, we have successfully hosted two events since 2022, namely; “Sustainable Aviation - Are we Ready?”, and “Women & Green Hydrogen”. This time, we are now focused on “Youth and Finance”. Moreover, RDJ Publication also provides a range of other services with the energy and sustainability landscape such as: Rapporteurs for events Unique In-house Designs and Layouts Exciting Advertising Opportunities Awareness Raising Events, Exhibitions and Career Fairs
The Youth & Finance Event seeks to create an atmosphere that fosters interest in and raises awareness of financial literacy skills among the youth. The public-facing forum includes an exhibition component that gives our stakeholders an opportunity to interface more extensively with the public, particularly the youth. The question that doesn’t want to be silenced is "why the youth focus, if money affects all ages?" The answer is that Namibia has high youth unemployment, and the arrival of COVID-19 has intensified the situation. According to a World Bank report from 2018, 51% of young adults across the continent saved money and 44% borrowed money while only 26% have an account at a financial institution. This demonstrates just how much many young Africans are actively using unsustainable financing means to meet their financial needs. Therefore, this event is crucial for the youth to assist them make the right financial decision while they are still youth. The aim of this event is therefore to enhance the youth’s understanding of the financial sector and how they can become active financial sector participants who can better manage their finances and plan for the future. In her welcoming message, Ms. Priscila further expressed the Group’s gratitude to Standard Bank for sponsoring the event, Future Media – the official media partner and Coca-Cola for sponsoring the event with their new soft drink “cappy”. All sponsors made this day possible for the Namibia Youth as they begin their journey to financial freedom!
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