17 Feb 2019

The Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Sport and Culture Development in conjunction with stakeholders has embarked on a 15-day orientation exercise on Youth Development Fund (YDF).

The crusade would reach out to youth in all the 19 wards in Francistown.

The Youth Development Fund, which is one of the ministry’s flagship programme, targeted start-ups or existing businesses owned and implemented by the young people.

Youth programme officer based in Francistown, Ms Tsogo Mosinyi, said in an interview on the sidelines of the orientation exercise on Wednesday that orientations had proven to be excellent platforms where young people could be taken through YDF basics all at once in a more relaxed atmosphere.

“Orientations have been exceptional vehicles that we have used as a ministry to drive this particular programme over the years and the results speak for themselves. Other than officially introducing the programme to young people and explaining what is expected of them in order to write winning proposals, we go on an extra mile to assist them, fill-in, the forms,” said Ms Mosinyi.

During the last financial year’s drive, the ministry managed to reach out to over 1 000 young people in Francistown.

Although happy with the turnout and participation by Monarch youth, Ms Mosinyi said her office was contemplating to divide the location and other big wards into two for effectiveness.

Out of the 100 proposals submitted by Francistown youths last year, 20 projects were given a green light and funded to the tune of P6 million.

Also, the ministry had in the past engaged the services of financial and marketing experts to help young entrepreneurs address grey areas in their businesses. Ms Mosinyi adviced the youth to never relent in their pursuit of dreams through programmes such as YDF.

“I encourage the youth to take full advantage of programmes geared towards improving their socio-economic status and that of their fellow young people,” she said. ENDS