06 May 2014

The recently opened Palapye youth centre will address issues such as poverty, unemployment, boredom, drugs and alcohol abuse, which are leading contributors to HIV/AIDS among the youth.

The centre’s advisor, Mr Thabo Dimeku said in an interview that the centre offered recreational activities such as sports, performing arts, scout, girl guides, theatre, music and dances, with the hope to keep the youth away from social ills.

Furthermore, Mr Dimeku said the youth centre would work with organisations such as Local Enterprise Authority and Citizen Entrepreneurial Development Agency to help empower the youth economically.

Through its education department, the centre would join hands with the government to provide lessons to students on weekends with the help of volunteer teachers to help improve overall results for Palapye schools.

In the business and training area, Mr Dimeku said the centre would be working with the Junior Chambers International Botswana Palapye branch to train youth and aspiring entrepreneurs in business skills.

Palapye youth centre will help support government initiatives geared towards discouraging youth from bad practices by empowering them with life skills, capacity building, leadership training, entrepreneurship and peer education through working with different departments and organisations. Ends