03 Apr 2019

The district youth office in Francistown had its funds increased in the 2018/19 financial year.

District youth coordinator, Ms Minkie Bokole, said this during a stakeholders’ appreciation session hosted by the Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Sports and Culture Development (MYSC) in Francistown recently.

She explained that during the 2017/18 financial year, disbursement performance level was at 95 per cent and increased to 97 per cent in 2018/19.

She further explained that there had been an increase in the money collected from youth businesses resulting in the district office managing to create about 143 jobs.

Ms Bokole said the office conducted an information, communication and technology training programme meant to close the gaps in computer literacy among the youth.

Though in high demand, Ms Bokole said there was a shortage of computers at the library where the programme was conducted and pleaded with stakeholders to assist.

She, however, said many still managed to graduate from the programme with the oldest being 67 years.

Ms Bokole said the office was without challenges and such included a decrease in monitoring youth projects.

This, she said, was as a result of businesses relocating without the knowledge of the office while others changed contacts without alerting the office.

This, she said, defeated efforts of having a traceability system.

She said they also encountered a decrease in youth participation in sports activities but added that they managed to achieve their mandate, objective and goal with the help and support of stakeholders.

The ministry’s principal programmes officer, Mr Caiphus Kopelang decried shortage of facilities such as grounds for constituency sports tournament.

He commended Botho University and Francistown College of Technical and Vocational Education for availing sports grounds to be used for the tournaments.

Mr Kopelang appealed to organisations such as CEDA to assist with tutoring beneficiaries on financial matters.

He said the youth needed to be encouraged to utilise programmes to improve their lives. Ends