By Frederick Philander WINDHOEK In observance of Global Youth Service Day, The Young Achievers (Y.A.) in collaboration with lay Pastor, Mr Naanda, on Saturday conducted a youth empowerment exchange with the youth of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in the informal settlement known as Kilimanjaro. The theme of the event was: “Youth Empowerment: You CAN cross the river. Have a vision!” “The youth participants organized all activities to exemplify the three main goals of Young Achievers: Intellectual skills, Professional skills and Social skills. Y.A. members modelled and helped enhance leadership skills by conducting team building exercises and organizing role plays, group discussions, inspirational speeches and games,” a press statement says. With the motto, Education, Development and Self-Reliance, the Young Achievers meet every Saturday from 1 to 4 at the Youth Multipurpose Centre in Katutura. During these sessions, all activities are focused on the three key areas of skills development. The greater part of the session is facilitated by the youth themselves so that they may enhance their leadership skills. Youth in Namibia are challenged by a lack of extracurricular activities, lack of direction, hopelessness, poverty, a high rate of school dropouts, failure, HIV/AIDS and alcoholism. “The Young Achievers plan to replicate outreach programmes with youth in other areas around as well as outside of Windhoek, irrespective of race/ethnicity or social class. This will contribute to the process of nation building in Namibia,” the statement reads.