13 Aug 2025

The youth are the  positive force in driving sustainable development.

Giving the keynote address, during the International Youth Day celebrations on August 12,  Minister of Youth and Gender Ms Lesego Chombo underscored the importance of ensuring young people had space to build their own platforms in clean energy, digital skills training, agri-tech, and sexual health education.

She said it was time to engage them as strategic partners, as they bring creativity, insight and strong community ties that help bridge the gap between policy and practice.

Ms Chombo called for the integration of youth priorities into local strategies, along with fostering partnerships and collaboration with youth organisations.

“We can transform their ideas into impactful and long-lasting solutions,” she said, urging government entities, civil society, the private sector, international agencies and development partners to move from tokenism to tangible support, and from listening to implementing youth-led solutions.

She assured the public that as her ministry reviews the National Youth Policy of Botswana, it would include the necessary platforms to enable young people to fully unleash their potential and actively participate in the national development process.

“It is important to appreciate and acknowledge that when the youth are rightly empowered, communities flourish and economies thrive,” she added.

According to the 2022 Population and Housing Census, Botswana’s youth population (ages 15–35) stands at 34.9 per cent, comprising 49.2 per cent males and 50.8 per cent females and over 60 per cent of Botswana’s residents are under the age of 35. ENDS