02 Dec 2020

Youth empowerment, sport and culture development assistant minister, Mr Buti Billy says Young Africa Botswana, a non-governmental organisation (NGO) is housed at Lady Olebile Masire Youth Centre. 

Mr Billy said Young Africa International was founded in the Netherlands, and that the local chapter was managed by two directors who were both from the Netherlands. He said the directors were expected to hand over to locals if the project was mainstreamed as a programme. 

He said the organisation provided entrepreneurship, life skills training for underprivileged youth through a training model. “My ministry has partnered with the organisation in a pilot project to upskill participants of volunteer programmes being Tirelo Setshaba, Internship and Graduate Volunteer Scheme as part of their exit strategy. 

Beneficiaries of the Youth Development Fund also benefit from the partnership,” he said.

Mr Buti said the NGO had employed 12 Batswana, out of which five were on a permanent basis and seven temporary assistants. 

He said at the time Young Africa Botswana started operating from the centre, it hosted 12 organisations, 10 of which were now not active. He said the two that were active; YOHO and Captive Eye were offered operating space at Botswana National Youth Council (BNYC) premises.

Gaborone Bonnington South MP, Mr Christian Greeff wanted the minister to state the owners of the NGO housed at Mma Masire Youth Centre, whether it was citizen-owned, its key mandate and the number of citizens employed at the organisation. 

He also inquired on the number of Batswana owning the NGOs that used to be housed at the centre and whether they were still active. ends