YOUTH & FINANCE POST EVENT REPORT
Keynote Address Ms Ellencia Hanse Director: General Services in the Ministry of Sport, Youth and National Service Mrs. Hanse commended the private sector through RDJ Group and their supporters, Standard Bank Namibia, Future Media Group, and Fresh FM for focusing the discussion on the needs of Namibia’s treasured asset “Our Youth”. She further emphasized the Ministry of Sport, Youth and National Services’ mandate and how this event “Imagine The Future: Youth and Finance” aligns with the ministry's objectives and planned initiatives targeting the unemployed youth. The Ministry of Sport, Youth and National Services’ mandate is focused on the promotion of youth empowerment initiatives as expounded in the third national youth policy. With the current economic challenges, it is a much-needed discussion that is both timely and relevant.
In addressing youth unemployment, the Ministry has mainly focused on: Young people who do not meet the entry requirements into tertiary institutions, including vocational training centers. Youth who need startup capital to start their own businesses. Therefore, the Ministry’s employment creation programs and projects over the years have been focusing on skills development in areas such as tailoring, basic computer skills, agriculture production, civic training & volunteer service. The Ministry has spent over Twenty Million Namibia Dollars (N$20 000 000) over eight years under the National Youth Credit Scheme to help young people to start businesses. The Ministry is cognizant of the fact that more still needs to be done and thus, the Ministry is engaged in a process to review its youth empowerment programs with the aim of re-launching and operationalizing the Credit Scheme in this financial year 2023-2024. In conclusion, the Ministry expressed profound appreciation that Initiatives of this nature are of significance as sports not only promote economic development and healthy lifestyles but also act as a catalyst for social cohesion.
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