Councillors suggest ways to curb collapse of youth projects

ONALENNA MODIKWA
Staff Writer | Sunday May 26, 2013 00:00

They said youth graduates often produce satisfactory project proposals thus qualifying for youth grants but abandon those projects once they find employment. Hence there is a great challenge of youth abandoning projects that had the potential to create employment and contribute to the growth of the economy.  Speaking during the council meeting that ends today, councillors said that action needs to be taken to address the rate at which government funded youth projects collapse. 'Funding must be invested in the Youth Empowerment Scheme graduates because they have been trained,' said councillor Dorcus Letlhogela.

Councillors observed that parents must take the blame for spoiling their children by not teaching them life skills and the hurdles they must endure in order to succeed in life.  Councillor Lekang Mukokomani regretted that the youth, who constitute 60 percent of the population, are reluctant to volunteer or be part of Village Development Committees, Parents Teachers Associations or even attend Kgotla meetings.

'Youth in developed countries like United States of America volunteer as we see them serving as Peace Corps here in our countries but Batswana youth do not do it,' he said.  One councillor felt that youth programmes had the potential to be extremely good if there was a good government in place and added that what is currently happening is that youth are being bought through these programmes.

'Programmes are only dished out towards elections hence there is no market for youth products. 'The quality of training youth receiving after qualifying for grants is not competitive and our education system does not give vocational training the priority it deserves,' said Councillor Koos Mashaba.

He expressed the need for those in the position of power to introspect and take stock because government has been very slow in equipping youth with relevant skills.

In his address, the Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Sports Youth and Culture, Jeff Siamisang, said government is faced with serious challenges in its effort to economically empower the youth. He said youth are very impatient in their projects and expect huge profits overnight hence they abandon projects that have prospects of doing well in the economy. He said they have also observed that youth focus on the same project hence those projects end up collapsing because the available market cannot sustain all of them.

Siamisang also pointed out that lack of operating space hinders youth projects. He appealed to authorities to intervene on the issue of land and further advised that authorities consider incorporating youth in their town planning to make things much easier for the youth.

He also said there is a limited market for youth products. Siamisang appealed to the local authorities to assist, especially those in the construction and maintenance projects.