Community Safety and Transport Management MEC Sello Lehari led the departmental Youth Business Investment Workshop as part of Youth Month celebrations in Dihatshwane at Seasons Conference Centre on Friday, 09 June 2023, to empower and draw young people into productive economies.
In line with this year’s youth month theme: “Accelerating youth economic emancipation for a sustainable future,” the Department coordinated a host of stakeholders to present business development support programmes to young people employed temporarily by the Department.
Acting Head of Department Ms Mpho Maleme, Chief Director Dr Dikobe and other senior managers were in attendance. The event was attended by 420 young employees of the Department from all districts.
The workshop aimed to assist in starting businesses, encourage young people to become entrepreneurs, and significantly contribute to the province's economic expansion.
MEC Sello Lehari said, “June is a symbol of youth civic power, the capacity and power of young people to stand in solidarity and demonstrate our capacity to effect change in our communities.”
The targeted stakeholders for the day included; the Department of Employment and Labour, National Youth Development Agency (NYDA), Small Enterprise Finance Agency (SEFA), Mahikeng Digital Innovation Hub, and other incubation hubs in the North West Province.
The National Youth Development Agency shared details about their NYDA Grant Programme, which aims to give young entrepreneurs access to both financial and non-financial business development support to help them start or expand their businesses. Youth entrepreneurs at intentional, promising, and new business development stages are the programme's focus.
Depending on their individual needs, young people whose business ideas qualify for the Grant Programme will also undergo some of the NYDA's non-financial support services, including Mentorship, Business Consultancy Services, Market linkage, Business Management Training Programme and Youth Co-operative Development Programme.
According to Tshepiso Mphehlo, Mayor of Mahikeng Local Municipality, youth-centred opportunities must be available to young people. There should be many opportunities in youth development to help young people grow and provide work opportunities.
Mphehlo added that young people view the NYDA as their means of achieving a better economic future. Thus it needs to be strengthened. A combination of unemployment and barriers to forming start-ups excludes young people from economic life.
It is not only morally necessary but also economically vital to unleash young people's energy, inventiveness, and technological ability.
