KEETMANSHOOP – The //Kharas Governor’s Youth Desk hosted an awareness session at the Keetmanshoop Multi-Purpose Youth Centre on Friday, aimed at equipping local youth with critical information regarding the National Youth Development Fund.
The engagement, organised by the office of the governor in collaboration with the Regional Youth Desk, aligns with governor Dawid Gertze’s declaration of 2026 as the ‘Year of Action, Unity and Self-reliance.’

The youth fund is a government-backed initiative aimed at supporting youth entrepreneurship and innovation.
The session drew a diverse crowd of unemployed youth, aspiring entrepreneurs, and students. Organisers focused on demystifying the fund’s requirements, offering comprehensive guidance on eligibility criteria, application procedures, and the specific types of projects that qualify for State support.
Beyond the technicalities of the fund, attendees received practical training in the fundamentals of business planning. 

Youth Desk officials emphasised the necessity of a professional executive summary, robust market analysis, and a clear management structure. Financial literacy was highlighted as a cornerstone of any successful funding application, with participants receiving tips on how to manage capital effectively.
The event also served as a call for regional solidarity. Participants were urged to move beyond individual competition and instead embrace networking and collaboration to strengthen the impact of youth-led initiatives across the //Kharas region.
Addressing the attendees, //Kharas Regional Council chairperson, Gerrit Witbooi, underscored the transformative potential of the fund. Witbooi challenged the youth to shift their mindset from being job seekers to job creators. 

“We want to see the youth of the //Kharas region not only seeking opportunities, but creating them. Not only dreaming, but building as well. Not only hoping, but leading,” he said.
Witbooi further urged both youth and officials to view the youth fund as a strategic stepping stone toward economic independence. 

He concluded by noting that such initiatives are vital for the long-term growth of Namibia and the sustainable development of the //Kharas region specifically.
-Nampa