Department Of Gender Affairs Revamps Its Unemployed Youth Initiative

Department of Gender affairs has improved the women economic empowerment (WEE) programme to incorporate unemployed youth aged 18 and above. Senior gender officer in Maun, Mr Kethuse Puso, said in an interview that the initiative which increased the monetary package took effect from November 1.

Under the new initiative unemployed graduates and the general public can apply. Mr Puso said the public has responded positively to the improved programme as they continue to receive more applications and inquiries. This new initiative is an improvement from an old WEE programme that was put in place which required a group to apply for a grant to start up business valued at P250 000.

In this new programme, Mr Puso explained that an individual can get a grant of P100 000, while two people can get up to P250 000 and three can get up to P300 000. He said the grant can be given to anyone to start any business except the Liquor business.

Furthermore, Mr Puso noted that the district economic development committee will be responsible for assessing the applications for the WEE grant and those viable will be granted the money. According to Mr Puso the new programme does not have age restriction compared to the old one and therefore has implored the youth to take advantage of the new programme and start up their businesses to help diversify the economy and create employment opportunities for others.

He emphasized that from the new programme the department can build infrastructure, fence fields and even pay for rented buildings for up to a period of six months for successful applicants.