Transforming young people into job creators

AS WE commemorate Youth Day/Youth Month, we should not only highlight the tragic loss of young lives during the June 16 Soweto youth uprising in 1976, but should also recognise the achievements and strides made by today’s young people.

The sacrifices made by the youth of 1976 towards the freedom of our nation paved the way for the youth of today.

Their spirit and courage to stand-up against unjust laws continues to inspire a lot of young people in the democratic government of today to be drivers of change, development and progress.

This year’s theme has been officially declared as “The Year of OR Tambo: Advancing Youth Economic Participation”.

The National Youth Service Corps (Narysec) skills development programme, established by the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform complements this year’s theme, as it continues to transform young people, especially in rural areas, from being job seekers to being job creators.

Since its inception in 2010, the Narysec programme has developed into an interven- tion programme – taking young people in rural areas who are unskilled and unemployed and giving them a second opportunity to get the necessary skills to either seek employment or start their own entrepreneurial opportunities.

This it does by training the youth through further education and training programmes linked to the identified developmental community projects in rural areas, and also by equipping the youth with multidisciplinary skills through civic education.

By enhancing these young people’s skills, the DRDLR has already improved the economic conditions of some Narysec programme participants and that of their rural communities.

The 24-month training and skills development programme not only seeks to equip unemployed rural youth with skills in order for them to become agents of change within their communities, but also inculcates a culture of responsible conduct, self-discipline, high moral values, confidence and national pride among young people in rural areas.

These are some of the most fundamental lessons for today’s youth.

They are a crucial segment of the nation’s development.

Therefore, their contribution towards the country’s economy and its development is highly needed. Hazel Salaze Berea View, Pretoria

The programme equips the youth to become agents of change