Tinaye Agere
Online Reporter
THE Epworth Local Board, with support from the European Union (EU), is setting up income-generating projects for youths and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the community as part of concerted efforts to reduce crime, as well as drug and substance abuse.
The Community Enterprise Resource Centre, equipped with state-of-the-art machinery used to design steel and wood carvings, has since been set up in Epworth.
The centre is open to youths and SMEs specialising in steel manufacturing and wood designing, including those willing to train in the two fields.
EU funded the Community Enterprise Resource Centre to the tune of €130 000.
Epworth Local Board Town Secretary Dr Wilton Mhanda said the initiative would reduce criminal activities and drug and substance abuse in the area by empowering youths.
“We received a shot in the arm from the European Union to the tune of €130 000, which was used to set up a Community Enterprise Resource Centre that has state-of-the-art machinery which design steel and wood,” said Dr Mhanda.
“This will help our children in the community to manufacture steel products and design attractive wood products, thereby reducing crime in the area, as well as reducing the abuse of drugs and substances.”
Youths who abuse drugs are at risk of mental health problems.
Online Reporter