27 Sep 2017

Youth in the Chobe region who are under youth programmes have been called upon to upskill themselves while enrolled under the youth schemes. 

Speaking during a national service and internship programme consultative meeting in Kasane recently, principal intern officer, Ms Mavis Ofentse urged participants to use government initiative schemes as a stepping stone to do something better in life and to stay committed to their work at all times.

“You should all consider this internship programme as a blessing as some of your friends have been on the waiting list for almost two years and I urge you all to use the fact that you work half day to your advantage and use your spare time to acquire skills either by attending part time schools such as BOCODOL and brigades. 

You should also find something positive to do with your lives or even consider going back to school,” she added.

Ms Ofentse urged interns to always associate themselves with anything or people who were positive and to always keep a positive mind at all costs as this would create a good working environment and enable them to move forward in life.

For her part, Ms Onthatile Modise, the district coordinator under Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Sport and Culture Development urged stakeholders to use the forum to change the way they viewed interns and also urged interns to change the way they perceived themselves and their duties in their work area.

She also said the youth should understand that internship and Tirelo Sechaba was a part-time job while waiting to be hired, hence they should always ensure they understood their duties and how they should work as a way of proving themselves towards the organsation they were working under.

One of the Tirelo Sechaba participants, Ms Namasiku Samunzala expressed gratitude towards these initiatives, saying she had acquired enough skills and knowledge to start up her own business without any difficulties or requiring any training. ENDS