WINDHOEK -The National Youth Service (NYS) entered into a memorandum of understanding on Monday on about a youth exchange program with the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA), a South African government youth agency.
This launch marked the second phase of the exchange programme in which South African youth commenced their community service in Namibia as of October 1. The first implementation was in March this year, which saw 20 Namibian youth carry out community services in South Africa for six months
Commissioner Onesmus Upindi said the bilateral agreement will serve a purpose to expose youth to community development work and provide opportunities to undertake community service in the two countries. The Namibian and South African youth will be paired together to carry out community work at various hospitals under the Ministry of Health and Social Services and at fish farms under the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources for a period of three months.
He further noted that the South African youth will be given an opportunity to undergo vocational training for a period of three months before they return to South Africa next year February. “Go out there voluntarily to represent both countries, you are now the ambassadors of the two institutions therefore serve the community with humbleness and loving hearts rather than a menace” said Upindi
Millicent Cloete, one of NYS trainees that had the chance to be in South Africa described herself as being blessed and lucky to be among those who were in South Africa saying it was not easy and it takes a lot of hard work and dedication to survive there. “Training was intense but we managed to do a good job in South Africa, it is because of that, I now have the confidence and courage to stand in front of people. I therefore urge my fellows colleagues to work hard, as this was just a bridging stone” said Cloete.
While Thaleane Makume the Senior Programme Manager of NYDA praised Namibian youth for doing a good job during their six months community service in South Africa and urged the NYDA youths to do the same during their community service here in Namibia rather than being a disappointment.