Botswana: Botswana National Youth Council in alignment with the youth of Botswana commemorated the World Youth Skills Day. The event was hosted on Sunday under the theme “Youth Skills for Peace and Development.
The event took place in Lentsweletau village with the youngsters of the country in attendance at the celebration. The World Youth Day is celebrated globally on July 15th, Botswana observed the day a week later
Kgosi Morulaganyi Tau Makgasane of Lentsweletau delivered a brief welcome speech in commemorate the occasion. He encouraged the village youth to improve their lives by taking advantage of government programs.
The government of Botswana has come up with several initiatives, which have be  designed specifically for them. He however expressed concern that many young people in his village struggle to benefit from these initiatives.
This happened due to their complex requirements urging the ministry to reconsider some requirements. Tshenolo Palai, a board member of the Botswana National Youth Council, provided an overview of the day’s significance.
He emphasized the importance of diverse skills for national development and mentioned their efforts to educate youth on the value of skill acquisition. Prior to the event, they engaged with the youth of Lentsweletau through educational workshops to empower them with necessary skills.
Delivering the keynote address, Nnaniki Makwinja, the assistant minister in the Ministry of Education and Skills Development and the area’s Member of Parliament, reflected on the progress made since the UN established this day a decade ago.
She addressed the high unemployment rates among youth in Botswana and stressed the need for skill development to address socio-economic issues. She praised the government’s economic empowerment programs and the support from stakeholders like the UNDP in advancing youth development.
In her conclusion, Makwinja thanked the organizers and stakeholders for making the day a success and celebrated the achievements of young people. She urged continued collaboration to enhance youth skills development.
The event concluded with the youth who underwent training being awarded certificates, recognizing their dedication and newly acquired skills.