ONGWEDIVA – MTC has revealed the over N$1.4 million raised through the We Race Together initiative will be split between two community programmes targeting sustainable food security and SME empowerment.

According to MTC spokesperson John Ekongo, the SME project will target at least 70 vocational graduates by procuring and providing them with start-up equipment grants. 

“The aim is to grow sustainable SME youth employment and make an impact on the Namibian youth across the country,” he said.

The youth unemployment rate stands at approximately 40% and young people, specifically those in the semi-skilled industry, have increased because many industrial activities that provided jobs for them have come to a halt.

As a result, they have been left out of the economy.

“Furthermore, previously disadvantaged vocational trained youth are set further back in the queue for opportunities,” he said.

Ekongo further said the sustainable food security project is set to support at least 10 different community garden projects across the country to benefit communities.

“The purpose of the support is to have a lasting impact on the communities through helping them execute a planned community garden, assisting an already-existing garden with the necessary support they may need to increase productivity, he said.

He added it is important that garden projects have a strong element of sustainability to benefit the community and must have an impact on the community to qualify for this aid.

“While we may be looking more at group-based projects, it is a fact that there may be individually-run or established gardens that may need assistance and can benefit the community through either skill transfer and employment or access to affordable food,” said Ekongo.

He mentioned food security is a need in many areas of the country. 

“Food handout programmes are not sustainable, as they create a dependency syndrome. Growing food for consumption and profit, on the other hand, is a more sustainable and long-term option for food security,” he noted.

Ekongo also said this project will address sustainable food security to create self-sustaining communities.

He said a public call for applications will be issued for deserving individuals to apply for this support.

“We thank all corporates that supported this initiative and all the personalities who made sure that together we can impact full change in our society,” he expressed.

- vkaapanda@nepc.com.na