17 Jul 2021

The Minister of Youth Empowerment, Sport and Culture Development (MYSC), Mr Tumiso Rakgare, says  launch of Youth Connekt is continuation of a joint effort between the United Nations Development Programme and Botswana to ensure that young Batswana become active participants in the country's socio-economic growth and development.

Launching the programme in Gaborone on Thursday, he said young people were the ministry's key focus group, therefore he was delighted that MYSC had partnered with UNDP and Botswana Innovation Hub. The programme was also supported by the Russian Federation.

He said the programme was an appealing platform that enabled the youth to connect with leaders, role models and peers to acquire skills and resources to promote employment and entrepreneurship opportunities.

Through the programme, the minister said they would be enhanced entrepreneurial skills and business practices developed in youth owned startups. He also said they woul be a cocreation and digital spaces would be provided for innovative youth entrepreneurs.

Mr Rakgare said the target was to assist at least 36 youth owned startups through training and mentorship.

He said the selection would be from Youth Development Fund grantees who in the past had struggled to fully utilise their grants to become successful businesses.

On other issues, he said UNDP and Botswana had signed a four year old partnership under the auspices of a project titled the “support to the fulfilment of human rights, Access to Justice and Empowerment of Women and Youth project.

“Through this project UNDP supports the MYSC to facilitate youth empowerment initiatives across the country to address some of the development challenges facing young people, such as youth unemployment.”

Minister Rakgare thanked the Russian Federation, which he said had entered into partnership with UNDP to establish the Russian Federation-UNDP Trust Fund for Development.

Ambassador  Russia, Mr Andrey Kemarskiy, thanked UNDP and Botswana as well as stakeholders for working together top ensure that the fund bore fruit. He said the fund was developed to provide, among others, sustainable development to Botswana and other countries. Ends