Auleria Wakudumo
Festus Hamalwa
OHANGWENA – Various bricklaying, carpentry and agriculture projects to empower young people in Ohangwena are thriving, while others are complaining about lack of funds and mentorship.
Youth from constituencies in the region have expressed their appreciation for the funds allocated to support their initiatives. Eleven youth projects underway in Ohangwena have been funded by the Ministry of Sport, Youth and National Service.
This was revealed during a meeting held by the National Council Standing Committee on Education, Science, Information and Communication Technology as well as Youth Development.
They are conducting regional oversight visits to assess youth projects funded through the Youth Credit Scheme.
The committee is led by Olivia Hanghuwo, accompanied by Bethuel Tjaveondja, Kosmas Katura, Jeremias Goeieman, Deriou Benson and Sakeus Nangula.
Immanuel Johannes from the Oshikango constituency received N$103 000 to establish a carpentry project. “We are grateful to our government for this opportunity, as it will help us generate income,” he added. His project will involve six people, including two women.
“This is the best opportunity for us to create jobs for other youth in the region,” he stated.
He urged the youth ministry to ensure that more youth benefit from these funds. “We plan to start our project next month, where we will manufacture tables, chairs and cupboards,” he revealed.
However, he highlighted challenges such as insufficient funds to buy equipment.
Samuel Shimwefeleni, who runs a brickmaking business with four partners, said their project has positively changed their lives.
They received N$350 000 from the ministry last year. The business is progressing because they receive more customers daily.
“We are always confident and happy because we earn money to support our families,” he stated.
“This is the best way to reduce the unemployment rate in our country, and create a fight against poverty,” he added.
He said they need a bigger truck to transport more bricks.
Mentorship failure
The youth ministry provides training, including financial aspects for beneficiaries, before they receive the money.
However, Hanghuwo said there is a noticeable gap in ongoing support after funds are allocated.
“It is crucial to establish effective communication channels between the youth, councillors and beneficiaries,” she said.
This can help ensure that funds are used effectively for business purposes rather than being squandered. She added that regular check-ins, mentorship programmes and accountability measures could enhance the impact of the financial support, and promote responsible management of resources. While some beneficiaries who receive support from government officials are thriving, others are struggling, with some not generating any income or effectively utilising their funds.
One successful project, Ondobe Youth Enterprise in the Ohangwena region, demonstrated that a strong relationship between the beneficiaries and the youth ministry significantly contributes to business growth.
Ohangwena governor Sebastian Ndeitunga expressed dissatisfaction with the mishandling of funds by Onehanga Youth Enterprise, noting that the money was not used for the intended purpose.
“The government funds provided to the youth were intended to empower them for business purposes – but unfortunately, they are being mismanaged,” he said.
“Where is accountability, where is supervision and control?” asked Ndeitunga.
He added that it is not just youth projects that are struggling, as many other government initiatives across the country are also facing failures.He urged beneficiaries of government funding to take their responsibilities seriously, and strive for success in their businesses.