[ad_1]
The Youth Livelihood and Entrepreneurship Accelerator (ALIVE) programme is more than just a start-up incubator; it is a beacon of hope and a testament to the power of collaboration and partnership.
This was stated by Emma Kantema-Gaomas, Canada’s deputy minister of sport, youth and national services, at the launch of the ALIVE Centre in Rondo last week.
According to her, the Reach Namibia project aims to prevent new HIV infections among children and adolescents, improve treatment outcomes for HIV-positive children and adolescents, and build resilience among vulnerable groups.
“This mission is fully aligned with our National Youth Policy, which prioritizes the empowerment and development of young people for sustainable and inclusive growth. Our National Youth Policy emphasizes the need to create opportunities for young people to thrive in various fields such as entrepreneurship, technology and health. By aligning the objectives of the ALIVE Center with our National Youth Policy, we ensure that our efforts are not just isolated interventions, but part of a larger, more cohesive strategy to uplift our youth,” she said.
“This initiative will serve as a catalyst for economic empowerment, foster innovation and promote entrepreneurship among young people.”
She praised the U.S. government as a “steadfast partner” to Namibia, providing “unwavering support” through the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (Pepfar) and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), which “has played a vital role in providing health and economic relief to the Namibian people.”
She added: “Let us express our heartfelt gratitude to the American people.”
build connection
The ALIVE centers will provide computers, printers and other hardware, as well as advisory and extension services to rural areas. They are expected to play a key role in addressing high youth unemployment rates while significantly contributing to Namibia’s long-term economic development.
The centres will also facilitate connections between youth and other stakeholders such as government agencies, civil society partners, private sector investors and employers through orientation sessions, coaching, mentoring, training and skills-building sessions. The ALIVE centres in Rundu and Nkurenkuru are expected to serve 240 Reach Namibia beneficiaries per quarter and will be expanded to cover all youth in Namibia.
Outstanding Initiatives
USAID Acting Representative in China Rockefeller Herries pointed out that the ALIVE program is an outstanding initiative aimed at helping young people cope with current and future entrepreneurial challenges.
“Reach Namibia is funded by Pepfar through USAID and aims to support young people in eight of Namibia’s most populous regions.”
He added that the central space will serve as a training ground where young people can develop innovative ideas, design products or solutions, and improve them through testing and feedback.
“This will help them increase their revenues and build viable and resilient businesses.”
[ad_2]
Source link
