28 May 2013

Youth in Nswazwi have been urged to utilise their entrepreneurial skills for their businesses to become sustainable.

Speaking during a road show in the village, Tutume sub-district youth officer, Ms Masego Gabonnelwe said most youth fail to achieve their goals because they do not take the business skills they have seriously.

Ms Gabonnelwe further said entrepreneurial skills are not possessed only by degree holders, but by every youth aged between 18 and 35, who are business minded and have passion for the field.

"Some businesses fail because the funded individual becomes incompetent  in running them, despite possessing the desired skills."

The youth officer informed participants about boot camps which are conducted for six weeks where training is offered and later on graduates get attachments to various government departments to apply what they have learnt.

She therefore encouraged young people who attended the event to register for such training and reminded them that registration is open throughout the year.

Commenting on the issue, a member of the Botswana Defence Force (BDF), Mr Deliver Wally said the turn-out of participants at this year’s session was disappointing and that nobody represented Nswazwi village.

Botswana National Youth Council (BNYC) 's Ms Simangaliso Balo said the youth have so much knowledge about business related matters but said they are very ignorant and do not want to take their businesses seriously.

"Rather they opt to engage in alcohol and drug abuse."

A youth role model and beneficiary in the village, Ms Winnie Masaka, who runs a milling business, gave some tips to the youth.

She talked of how she started her business in 2009 after receiving P99 000 grant from the youth scheme and purchased milling equipment.

"The advise I can give is that  you should follow procedures and put your all in your business."ENDS