adminBeitbridge Bureau
THE International Labour Organization (ILO) has availed $30, 000 towards funding youth empowerment and economic development programmes in Beitbridge District.
Matabeleland South provincial Youth Development Officer Elphas Siziba told Chronicle yesterday the funding would be channelled towards cattle rearing and fattening projects targeting 50 youths from the district in 12 rural wards.
Siziba said beneficiaries of the programme would undergo formal training on basic business management skills at Guyu Vocational Training Centre at the end of this month.
“We are working with ILO in creating employment and improving self sustenance amongst the youths. We expect the cattle rearing project to take off at the end of this month,” he said.
“ILO has agreed to avail $30,000 for Beitbridge youths and they are finalising the arrangement. Beneficiaries will be trained on capacity development and standard business management skills.”
Siziba said in February last year ILO availed $54, 000 for a similar initiatives in Gwanda and Insiza districts as a pilot project. He said the funding scheme seeks to benefit 100 beneficiaries from the three districts and that the projects would be officially commissioned later this year.
“The programme started last year in Gwanda and Insiza and this year we decided to spread it to Beitbridge. We are going to cover the whole province in the near future.
“Basically we are training these youths on proper business management skills and we also give them start up capital which we will recoup when they start reaping the fruits of the projects,” said Siziba.
He said efforts were under way to engage other development partners towards ensuring economic and sustainable development for the youths.
Online Reporter