Julina Kaakunga
The National Collaborative Board Association (NCBA) is a youth-led organisation established in 2020 by different youth leaders from different organisations across the country.
“We, as the youth, believe in working together, and that is why we decided to come up with this platform,” said secretary general and member of the National Council of the organization, Lucas Ingashipola. The platform aims to empower and unite young people. Early this month, the NCBA held its official opening launch for the year 2024, which Ingashipola explained was more of a planning session on where the organisation is headed next.
This was held in Ongwediva under the theme ‘Reviving Economic Growth Amongst the Youth’. The meeting brought together close to 20 delegates from the organisation’s branches to discuss its yearly activities, as well as the challenges and successes of each branch.
The NCBA has branches in Windhoek, Rundu, Walvis Bay, Ondangwa and Ongwediva. “Through our collective efforts, we have the opportunity to foster innovation, drive meaningful change, and create lasting solutions that benefit all. As we embark on another year of collaboration, let us reaffirm our commitment to working together, sharing knowledge and leveraging our collective strengths to make a positive difference in the lives of the people we serve. I am confident that the discussion and initiatives which emerge from our meetings will contribute to the advancement of our shared goals and the betterment of our communities”, Ingashipola was quoted as saying.
Delegates also used the opportunity to propose ways in which young people can revive economic growth. The main suggestion which emerged from the lively discussion was that young people need to start having an entrepreneurial mindset by establishing businesses, investing, and being innovative. The youth leaders also extended a call to the public and private sectors to give young people free collateral loans for their business ideas, and to create an inclusive economic sector in which the youth can actively participate.
In April, the organisation will kick off its first initiative of the year. This project aims to raise national awareness of sexual health issues, and offer sanitary pads by collaborating with other student associations and the education ministry to deliver sanitary pads to all 14 regions.
“Worldwide, more than half of the young people live in poverty, and survive on less than two dollars a day. Every year, 16 million adolescent girls become mothers. Today, approximately 25 000 youth become newly-infected with HIV every single day. Yesterday and today, we have youth who are wandering around the streets and becoming ‘tombo’ drunkards. In all regions of the world, youth unemployment is unacceptably high, and many young people fall victim to exploitation and violence. It’s all our responsibility to restore this future,” Ingashipola urged.
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