WINDHOEK - Namibia, The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Namibia Country Office has joined forces with the Ministry of Sport, Youth and National Service (MSYNS), National Youth Council of Namibia (NYC) and other partners to launch this year’s National Youth Week.
Launched on 20 April 2022, the 15th National Youth Week will be held under the theme ‘Promoting Youth Agripreneurship: An Avenue for Self-Employment and Work-Readiness’, and is aimed at encouraging young people to take part in Namibian food systems through small- to medium-sized enterprises in the agriculture sector.
This year’s event will take place in Lüderitz from 26 to 29 April, and will be attended by 500 youths from across the country including youth with disabilities and from marginalised communities.
This does not mean that you are only going to be in the garden. Some will be in a chain of many other things.
Hon. Agnes Tjongarero, Minister of youth when launching the week was however disappointed that despite the opportunities, created for them, many young people are not interested in agriculture due to a lack of understanding.
“This does not mean that you are only going to be in the garden. Some will be in a chain of many other things,” she stated.
During the launch, 112 pieces of items were handed over to young people, six (6) from each of the 14 regions of the country. The equipment which included sewing and welding machines were acquired through different sponsors of the National Youth Week.
The sponsors include the Namibia Fish Consumption Promotion Trust, Agribank, Seaflower, Namport, the Development Bank of Namibia, UNFPA and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
Investing in young people is one of the smartest investments a country can make, and this investment is not only about future dividends it is about our present as well, as young people are powerful contributors to the strength and development of our societies.
Sheila Roseau, UNFPA Namibia Representative highlighted the need to invest in young people. “Investing in young people is one of the smartest investments a country can make, and this investment is not only about future dividends it is about our present as well, as young people are powerful contributors to the strength and development of our societies,” she stated.
Activities set up for the week include a clean-up campaign, a tuck-shop set up in the informal settlement for two young people with disabilities and a value chain exhibition among others.
