Youths benefit from ILO

Diana Nherera Harare Bureau
MORE than 10,000 youths from nine provinces have benefited from the International Labour Organisation’s income generating projects. Of the 10,000 youths, 2,385 are master craftspersons, with 7,644 more on the programme coming from the urban and rural areas.

Speaking during a tour of the Danish funded ILO skills for youth and development programme at the Glen View furniture complex on Thursday, ILO country office director, Hopolang Phororo said plans were underway to create more income generating projects for youths in Masvingo, Chivi and Gutu as part of its efforts of supporting youths.

The organisation, through funding from the Danish government, is already in the process of laying the necessary groundwork in these areas and would soon help in empowering youths as well as creating employment.

“Of the nine provinces that we have helped youths in income generating projects, Masvingo, Chivi and Gutu had been left behind and plans are underway to empower youths in those areas,” said Phororo.

“The skills for youth employment and rural development programme aims to improve the quality of traditional apprenticeships in the informal economy in the urban areas and market driven community-based technical and vocational skills development in rural areas to equip youths with skills to improve their employability.”

Phororo said the purpose of the provision of skills for youths was to provide employment and enable them to embark on income generating projects through post-training support which includes access to micro-finance.

Phororo said 700 government officials and partners had been trained on the programme’s methodologies at national, provincial and district levels.

Speaking during the tour, Youth, Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment deputy minister Retired Major Mathias Tongofa commended the Danish government and ILO for a sterling job in reducing unemployment.

He urged them to increase their support for youths around the country through more empowerment projects. “My Ministry commends the Danish government and ILO for complementing government efforts of supporting youths in their empowerment projects,” Rtd Maj Tongofa said.