Despite the desperate interest of thousands of youths to be recruited into the National Youth Service programmes to fulfil their patriotic civic duties, only 418 young Namibians could be taken in this year.
National Youth Service board chairperson Emmerentia Leonard during the recent 13th pass-out parade at Rietfontein said financial constraints hampered the recruitment of more youths from more than 6 000 who applied.
“As the board, we acknowledge that this number (418) is insignificant, compared to the number of youths who need access to these kinds of opportunities, skills and resources,” she added.
However, the board has intensified the service’s own revenue-generating initiatives to ensure the youth benefit from these empowerment interventions, said Leonard.
“The poultry enterprise has reached a capacity of 3 700 eggs per day. Additionally, the planted vegetables on 3.5 ha of land are envisioned for October/November. The other two projects – lucerne production and bee (honey) production – are at an advanced stage of implementation, with full production expected in early 2023,” she stated.
Leonard noted that these efforts are some of the many interventions introduced to create value for the youth and its shareholders in the medium- to long-term period.
Since the NYS programme started in 2007, 5 390 have graduated with skills, competencies and attitudes that will enable them to function as productive citizens in a holistic programme.
The NYS offers civic, technical and vocational training, personal development programmes and opportunities for voluntary services to the youth, thus contributing sustainably to national socio-economic development efforts.