Stefanus Nambara
NKURENKURU - Twenty-two Kavango West residents who attended 13 weeks’ training in leather production in the region graduated at Nkurenkuru a fortnight ago.
The graduates were empowered with technical and business skills in leather production.
The trainees were 26 in total, but only 22 met the pass requirements. The group was the first in the region to benefit from this free-of-charge qualified educational opportunity. The training started towards the end of 2021 and was initiated by the Kavango West Regional Council through its One Region, One Initiative (OROI) programme
in conjunction with the Namibia Community
Skills Development Foundation (Cosdef)
through its Oyetu project.
Oyetu project coordinator Simon Sheyanena reminded the graduates that they are a handful
of lucky people chosen to benefit from the opportunity in the region, therefore, they owe services to the region and nation at large.
He said some regions were accorded the same opportunity but are not making use of the skills they were equipped with.
“I am appealing to you to make use of this opportunity to work. If you are dying because of hard work, let it be. In my view that is good death instead of dying unskilled, lazy, unproductive, poor and hungry,” Sheyanena stated.
“I must tell you there is good money in leather unless you hate money which, in my view, is inhuman. My people, our market is flooded with fake crafts and non-Namibian handmade products. Go to the key local tourism-driven places and see for yourself. You will understand the injustices we are doing to our international visitors. Local products are nowhere to be found and this is a clear indication that our tourists are forced to buy products that will never carry a Namibian voice,” he added. On his part, Kavango West Regional Council chairperson Joseph Sikongo expressed hope that the graduates will use the new skills acquired to advance themselves, adding that the leather production industry is a lucrative one with potential for both local and international markets.
“This initiative is going to assist in addressing one of the biggest challenges facing our youth today, which is unemployment, and will provide income opportunities that will contribute to addressing poverty and food insecurity in the region,” he said in a statement read on his behalf.
The wish of the council is to formalise ties with Cosdef through a Memorandum of Agreement to further train more youth in the region.
Sheyanena indicated that Cosdef will continue to work with the council to mentor the graduates and market their products through avenues such as Cosdef’s shop in Swakopmund, Oyetu online shop, circulation of hard copy catalogues, World Fair Trade Organisation and through local craft retailers and suppliers.
* Stefanus Nambara is an Information Officer in the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology (MICT) based Kavango West.