12 Aug 2021

The theme for 2021 International Youth Day, “Transforming Food Systems: Youth Innovation for Human and Planetary Health, will usher in a new beginning for involvement of Botswana youth in economic matters, especially food production.

   This was said by Minister of Youth Empowerment, Sport and Culture Development Mr Tumiso Rakgare in Gaborone yesterday on the occasion of the day’s 21st commemoration.

   “I am encouraged by increasing participation of our youth in different agricultural and other endeavours because it affirms our message that extensive youth engagement is gaining momentum and this is for the betterment of our country,” said the minister.

    Noting that the day was being commemorated in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, he credited young people with playing an important role in combating the scourge. Young people, he said, were part of frontline workers and were thus contributing in keeping the nation safe.

  Minister Rakgare said the theme was appropriate because it aimed at promoting dialogue and interaction to ensure that Batswana youth were actively involved in making positive contributions to the economy.

  He said it also resonated well with the country’s drive towards a knowledge based economy and highlighted that success would not be possible without meaningful participation of young people.

    “It is through the efforts of our young citizens that we can be able to transform our food systems,” he said.

     He noted that the theme called for the inclusion of marginalised, rural, in and out of school youth in all decision making processes, including food production.

    Minister Rakgare said provision of a conducive environment whereby youth could engage freely, express themselves and participate in decision making processes related to their diverse needs was one of government’s priorities.

    Government had therefore taken a keen interest in promoting youth dialogues and ensuring the success of the Youth Development Fund meant to provide young people with startup capital to embark on business ventures with food production being one of the current priorities.

    Food, he noted, had a bearing on people’s health therefore food systems challenges  needed to be addressed.

The minister called on different stakeholders to give young people opportunities in initiatives with a bearing on socio-economic development.

    Mr Rakgare stated that the ministry had partnered with UNDP through the Botswana National Youth Commission (BNYC) to promote youth dialogues across the country to ensure that their voices were heard.

The minister said the day served as an opportunity to raise awareness pertaining to challenges faced by youth, recognise and celebrate contributions made by young people in diverse fields such as education, social justice and employment.

The first International Youth Day was commemorated in the year 2000. ends