26 Mar 2015

North West District Council chairperson, Mr Reaboka Mbulawa says 826 participants under Botswana National Service Program (BNSP)  have been engaged in different institutions in Ngamiland.

Mr Mbulawa said 919 applicants were in the waiting list while the department of youth had so far recorded 292 participants who had exited the programme.

He said the department had of late made improvements to the programme whereby participants as of March 1 this year started to work half day adding that the change would enable them to use the afternoons to attend job interviews and prepare project proposals for funding in other programmes.

Mr Mbulawa announced that participants would receive a monthly allowance of P600 with an additional P100 saved on their behalf. The other change, he added was that BNSP would allow the enrolment of junior certificate holders to those with diploma qualifications.

Regarding Youth Development Fund (YDF), Mr Mbulawa noted that a total of 112 applications were received for consideration into the program noting that up to date only 45 projects have been approved to the value of over P4 million.

He informed the meeting that Council has created employment for 48 young Batswana in the district, “we also expect these numbers to increase as the businesses start to operate.”
However, he raised a concern about the high number of rejected proposals which currently stand at 77, noting that these potential beneficiaries still face common challenges such as lack of operation space while some ventured into projects not viable such as livestock in Foot and Mouth Disease prone areas.

Mr Mbulawa emphasised the need to engage youth in the development of the district noting that it was through programs such as YDF that they could achieve the desired goals of sustainable economy.

Councillors were also informed about the Northern Youth Pitso which was held in Maun on the March 11 -13 to sensitise youth on programmes, projects and services provided by the ministry of Youth, Sport and Culture, get feedback on issues of service delivery; engage key stakeholder organisations and strengthen and reinforcing the relation with youths.
Another objective was to give stakeholders an opportunity to disseminate information on various youth development interventions and creating opportunities youth could access to improve their livelihoods and that of the communities.

About 126 youths participated in the Pitso themed “Linking youth empowerment programmes a key to improving access to services”. The seminar attracted participants from Maun, Gumare, Serowe, Mahalapye, Palapye, Bobonong and Selibe-Phikwe. ENDS