New youth empowerment scheme introduced

By Lets Open

The government has recently introduced a new scheme called Youth Empowerment Scheme (YES), which is expected to start operating soon.

According to the public relations officer at the Ministry of Youth, Sport and Culture, Christian Mmusi, the scheme is aimed at improving lives of Botswana youth by equipping them with multi skills.

He revealed that participants will receive a six-week training to prepare them for jobs and entrepreneurship. They will be tutored in agriculture, technology, counseling skills particularly trauma counseling, health skills, business courses and communication skills.

The scheme will cater for both out of school youth and graduates currently roaming the streets with degrees from higher learning institutions.

They are to be attached to different government departments and private sectors for experience, including those interested in business.

The participants will be given a P300 allowance during their training and a monthly allowance of P500 during their internship.

Mmusi said selection and orientation is due to take place soon.

Participants will be placed in their respective places of origin or home villages/towns, in order to mitigate issues of accommodation and general cost of living which can practically not be covered by a P500 allowance.

Requirements for the scheme include the BGCSE certificate or its equivalent for out of school youth. Unemployed degree holders are also allowed to apply. Those with jobs are not allowed as the aim is to eradicate the escalating rate of unemployment, among the youth. Applications can be submitted to any office of the Department of Youth and Culture country wide.

Officials, however, could not shed light into the exact location of the training and the number of the first intake, though the figure of 1 000 had been mentioned.

Source: Ngami Times