07 Mar 2016

One of the objectives of the Youth Development Fund (YDF) is to empower and promote the participation of youth in the socio-economic development of the country, says councillor Tumelo Keolekanye of Boseja/Flowertown ward in Mahalapye  

In an interview recently, Mr Keolekanye said the fund was also meant to create sustainable employment opportunities for young people through the development of sustainable projects.

He said the government was spending money on youth schemes, but that they were not coming forth to utilise the initiative. 

He said most young people were more into employment than being passionate about businesses.

He advised them to stand up and use the opportunities, adding that they should have hunger and love for what they were doing. He also said they should have faith that their products and services would fulfill a need in the market.

Mr Keolekanye noted that about six per cent out of hundred schemes funded succeed and that the rest failed due to lack of knowledge, business space and insufficient operating funds.

He said it was important to take into consideration that many businesses take years to get going, meaning they have enough funds to cover all costs until sales could eventually pay for the costs.

He said that renting business space was costy and that rental prices were high. He urged the government to do everything to help them. Ends