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I Nmy first feature of 2022, ‘Prioritising Youth Urgent In 2022’ I wrote, ‘Nationally, youth need to be brought into the picture more in all development efforts. It is urgent.’ Today finally some youth chairs have been brought to join the development table.
Perhaps it is by coincidence, perhaps not, but it matters least if the feature had any impact on the efforts for the youth we are seeing unfolding today. It matters most that finally, it is happening. In development, it is not the credit that matters but it is the impact. But that was my thorn all of 2021.
Today’s feature I would like to highlight two programmes I feel will take the issue of youth empowerment forward with the seriousness it deserves. And not a moment too late. Indeed, a bright light has transcended at the end of what seemed like an eternal murky tunnel for the country’s youth.
The rays of hope are thanks to development partners the European Union (EU) in Eswatini and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), putting young people at the centre of their interventions.
This week I was itching to write about one of the longest 48 hours we had as a society during the recent ‘shutdown’. A phase reminiscent of lockdown days when we had no access to basics.
A time you never wish on anyone. As a psychologist friend wrote on Facebook this week; “When will we talk about the anxiety all this causes?” The effects are long-term indeed.
But the more I thought about writing about this week’s actions, the more I felt that politics are perhaps best left to the politicians, political scientists and commentators.
As citizens, we do not want fancy big words or strategic plans. We want simple and people-centered
ASHUTDOWN
solutions to the impasse. We can write all we want but it is only engagements and meaningful solutions that will eradicate such situations in future.
What is clear though is that everyone wants a peaceful and prosperous Eswatini and it is a fervent prayer that we get that sooner than later. Because in the end, it is the society that bears the biggest brunt of the impasse.
But that’s for political commentators to expand on. Let me get on with this week’s topic—youth empowerment. Apologies for bouncing around like a yo-yo, my emotions are everywhere and so they should be because of the time we all are in.
While the country is facing various challenges and is working on ways to find solutions, some of them are glaring and the issue of unemployment has been calling for immediate intervention for a very long time.
And this is through the empowerment of the youth. In the previous week, we read with awe as an Eswatini Youth Empowerment Programme was launched. It seemed like something out of a dream for me. A dream finally coming true.
If you have followed my features they have all been whining for interventions for youth. One of my most lurid suggestions to date was to the Minister of Sports, Culture and Youth Affairs
almost three years of being back home, in my country of birth, I have never felt this helpless, lost and hopeless. There is just a lot going on around us and the saddest part of it all is that saying something is as bad if not worse than not saying anything at all.
When I decided to come back home I so many dreams and ambitions for my country and indeed started implementing a few with so much oomph and hope for the best.
FTER OPINIONATED
I was also very opinionated and was so excited to finally have a platform like this one to express myself and hopefully inspire others in the process.
SOLUTIONS
to request that all speeches by other ministers feature a line or several about youth.
This means if the Minister of Agriculture speaks, whatever project he would be speaking on, he should also address young people as critical stakeholders of society so they feel valued and part of the nation-building process. But then that has not happened. What has happened though is the Youth Empowerment Programme and the EU focus on youth.
Eswatini Youth Empowerment Programme is endorsed by the Government of the Kingdom of Eswatini. According to the UN website, it supports young people between 18 to 35 years old to gain work experience, skills and access to jobs.
ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Supported by UNDP through a partnership with the private sector and tertiary institutions, the programme also reaches out to young people with little or no tertiary education for training on entrepreneurship for business start-ups working on five key pillars. Just what the doctor ordered.
It is targeting at least 4 000 beneficiaries and will be active in all four regions. The programme’s ambition is to reduce youth unemployment by 50 per cent by 2030 which would be a huge win.
This, the UN website explains, will be achieved through private
As it stands, I have honestly lost every single ounce of hope and energy to begin defining and expressing it. Worse is when sector companies committing to giving internships to the maximum number of graduates they can afford for a year and paying them a stipend.
Therefore, in the rollout companies can also sponsor their smaller counterparts including non-governmental organisations (NGO) who may not be in a position to pay the stipend but would like to allow young graduates to work with them. This creates a strong ecosystem working together to support youth empowerment.
As I highlighted in that forgotten January feature ‘government cannot do it alone it also needs the buy-in of the private sector.’ And indeed it is pleasing to see the private sector pledging support for this project.
The programme also reaches out to young people with little or no tertiary education for training on entrepreneurship for business start-ups.
Unpacking the programme to leaders of private sector companies on October 7 at an engagement session held at MVA Conference Centre, UNDP Deputy Resident Representative, Ms Jane Yeboah, is quoted on the UN website noting that this programme will significantly transform the country.
The report states that Yeboah said this programme is different from the various internships run
I think about upcoming generation and their future.
They are definitely going through the most and one can only imagine the long term damage and effects such a current situation will have.
I am honestly not saying anything at all, but everything at the same time, because wow!
My time and experience back in my country has taught me more than enough and a lot about what I used to perceive as pure acts and fruits of lazy cowards.
DREAMS TRAINING
Someone even said the other day, ‘if you get a chance to escape, leave and never look back’.
I honestly still have very deep hidden somewhere inside mad love for my home country. In fact, I still sometimes even have those random dreams of one day (in good time) returning to give back and even grow the very community that raised me to become who and what I am today. In the meantime, though, amidst everything and the actual current realities, the feeling of taking a break (what by companies in that it brings everyone together to move toward one direction at the same time. We applaud that and look forward to its successful implementation
And then last but not least the EU intervention. According to the EU website, in a November 10, 2022, feature entitled ‘European Union places youth at the centre of its cooperation with Eswatini’, it brings sunshine to every young person in the country.
The article reads that: “The European Union (EU) will provide US$32 million (approximately 575 million SZL) for the period 202124 for development projects in the Kingdom of Eswatini. The EU funding will focus on the priority area of Human Development and Social Inclusion, with the goal of assisting the emaSwati youth.”
It further explains that the financial allocation for 2025-2027 will be determined following a review in 2024. This is a project that has to be a success because it has all the elements of bringing development to young people.
Credit also goes to those who made an input to have the youth as a priority area. Forget my January feature. These are the ones that matter the most.
PRIORITISING
According to the website article, the focus of the EU Multiannual Indicative Programme (MIP) has been defined following extensive consultation with the Eswatini Government, the 27 EU member States and diverse key stakeholders, in particular civil society organisations, including women and youth bodies, local authorities, representatives of the private sector, the UN and other partners.
In my closing sentiments on the issue of prioritising youth in January 2022, I wrote, ‘If we, as a country can tackle the issue of youth unemployment well in 2022, we can be on course to have a better year than the previous ones.’
We have had a few activities like the first National Youth Entrepreneurship Summit and others.
But heading into 2023, we are on a good foundation of these two fantastic programmes on the way to being rolled out. By the end of 2023, we may be looking at a much better end to the year than the one we have now.
But what is good is that the road to refueling the youth has started thanks to the EU, UNDP and all stakeholders involved. Thank you for the early Christmas gift of hope.
others might coin as escape) from it all grows bigger by the day. But what can we do?
Every other week one is almost always inspired to voice an opinion on other very crucial issues that concern and touch us all, above and beyond the day-to-day relationship related content and motivational reflection pieces, but then end up not doing so.
FEARLESS
That bold, independent thinking and fearless self has now almost completely disappeared.
Entrapment feelings are now almost a daily bread. Yes, we can see it, yes we can feel it, but can we really do anything about? If so, what and how exactly without being victimised and or even suffering the consciences? It is honestly a very tough one.
Those comfortable, genuinely unbothered and care less about everyone else do not want to see it and I guess that’s okay, for them.
Anyway, let me go back to my usual thinking and weekly reflecting about everything-nothing and saying nothing at all.