Windhoek
Many school leavers are expected by their families to become breadwinners. However, securing gainful employment in an environment of high youth unemployment is not guaranteed, while securing a loan without adequate collateral to start a business is a major constraint for the youth.
“Not all of us can go to university and university is not for everyone. This is why we have to promote entrepreneurship in the country. These days entrepreneurs can make more money than doctors and lawyers,” said Dr Helena Ndume, the renowned Namibian ophthalmologist known around the world for her charitable work among sufferers of eye-related illnesses.
Dr Ndume made these remarks as one of five ambassadors for SABMiller Namibia’s Kickstart competition that will give away N$1 million at the end of May to three Namibians with sustainable and scalable business ideas. Thus far SABMiller has received approximately 500 applications.
Kickstart Namibia is a youth entrepreneurship development programme of SABMiller Namibia, which aims to create a culture of entrepreneurship amongst the country’s youth by promoting business awareness through business skills development, by providing grants for start-ups, or taking existing business or new business ideas to the next level.
As one of the ambassadors for Kickstart Namibia Dr Ndume is tasked with providing guidance and mentorship for the duration of the business idea implementation.
The competition, for which entries close on March 31, is open to all Namibians between the ages of 18 and 35 years old. All that is required is a business idea and a burning passion to see its success.
SABMiller corporate affairs officer Maija-Lisa Prinzonsky explained that the competition is open to all types of entrepreneurial ideas that will have a significant impact on the community in which they operate, or even the entire country.
She noted that innovation and sustainability will be the main factors that will be considered in judging the various business ideas.
SABMiller also runs the entrepreneurial competition in other African markets where the company is active, including South Africa, Botswana, Zambia, Mozambique and Kenya.