11 Feb 2014

Youth in Oliphant’s Drift have been encouraged to apply for funding so that they can start their own businesses.

Kgosi Modise Mohutsiwa said in an interview that many young people were complaining about lack of employment when government had created opportunities for them to start their own businesses.

He blamed alcohol and drug abuse on the slow uptake of government assistance and said the vices would destroy the young people unless they turned a leaf.

Nevertheless, Kgosi Mohutsiwa said he was impressed by the interest they had shown following a recent meeting the village leadership had with them.

The meeting followed a visit by the Department of Youth, during which staff from the department explained to young people how to fill in application forms.

With the help of the social worker many of them managed to fill the application forms. “As I speak to you many are still awaiting responses, ” he said.

Kgosi Mohutsiwa said the youth in his village had an advantage when it came to horticultural projects owing to its location along the river. He applauded the government for continuing to assist Batswana with life improving programmes.

However, he complained that many backyard beneficiaries were faced with huge water bills and asked the government to assist them with an engine to get water from the river. ENDS