OUTAPI – The Outapi Community Empowerment Centre continues to empower and create income-generating opportunities for the community, particularly women.
Control administrative officer in the social welfare ministry in Outapi Hileni Shimhulu said the centre provides space to the community to produce, market and sell their products to generate an income.
The centre, which is under the Ministry of Gender Equality, Poverty Eradication and Social Welfare, was established to provide equal opportunities for men and women from disadvantaged rural and urban communities.
“The community empowerment centre strives to promote the wellbeing of the communities through socio-economic development,” said Shimhulu.
She said the centre hosts community functions, training workshops and other recreational activities.
It can also accommodate guests.
The centre has 18 stalls, two houses, a modern community hall, eight well-furnished classrooms, a kiosk and a kitchen.
At the moment, the community hall accommodates about 200 people and can be used for bigger events such as conferences, workshops and meetings.
In addition, the centre can also be used for hospitality training as well as needlework and tailoring classes.
The centre also has 18 stalls from which entrepreneurs can sell their produce.
According to the ministry’s Omusati regional head Beverly Mukulu, the establishment of the centre in the region is to allow various actors to participate in the community empowerment programmes.
“The ministry realised that the goal of community empowerment programme at the centre can only be achieved if it partners with other institutions in the country that aim to promote skills development programme in the community,” says Mukulu.
“To achieve the aims and objectives of the centre, the ministry welcomes the cooperation agreement from accredited institutions to provide a skills training programme and mentoring support to micro-entrepreneurs,” stated Mukulu.
She expressed her concern about a lack of participation from the key actors, urging them to get fully involved in various programmes offered at the centre.
The centre serves as the coordinating hub for communities to share information such as gender-based violence and child protection forums offered by the ministry as well as other social issues affecting them.