Breaking free from cycles of poverty and creating business and employment are daunting tasks. 

RuralRevive Initiative equips capable young people with skills to create jobs for themselves and become entrepreneurs.

One of the co-founders, Reinhold Mangundu, said the initiative trains young people through its horticulture training programmes, equipping them with skills to set up gardens for themselves.

“We also train them to become entrepreneurs through our economics’ programme, where we are taking in an intergenerational group of young people and older women to equip them with the skills – basic skills of business,” said the coordinator.

The initiative is dedicated to empowering local communities by supporting economic diversification and offering possibilities for sustainable lives. 

By encouraging a diversity of businesses and supporting local entrepreneurs, the strategy strives to lessen dependency on a single economic sector, helping communities prosper and adapt to changing market conditions, Mangundu said.

Through strategic partnerships, hands-on training and a commitment to fostering local talent, the initiative assists the Maltahöhe community to prosper.

“The RuralRevive Initiative is a transformative programme that empowers the Maltahöhe community by providing them with the practical tools and resources needed to achieve self-reliance and long-term sustainability. By focusing on skills development, entrepreneurial support and creating diverse employment opportunities, the initiative tackles the root causes of unemployment and poverty head-on,” he stated.

This holistic approach not only addresses immediate needs, but also lays the foundation for a brighter future, where community members can thrive independently, and contribute to the region’s economic growth.

Through strategic partnerships, hands-on training and a commitment to fostering local talent, the initiative ensures that it goes beyond the means of capacitating young Namibians, as it also gets involved in clean-up campaigns and other major projects.

“We had young people take part in our biggest cleaning campaign, which brought about 200 community members together, predominantly young people, in efforts to clean the environment, but also as part of consciousness, understanding that waste can be treasure. This is linked to building opportunities through job-creation,” he said.

Mangundu noted that many of the youth who have gone through the horticulture training programme are now employable.

The Wolwedans Foundation started RuralRevive to prioritise environmental preservation, while also attending to people’s needs. -psiririka@nepc.com.na