On 30 June 2022, as the state brought the curtain down on what was a very progressive and inspiring youth month, once more, Free State Premier Sisi Ntombela created a platform to interact with young people from various towns of our province.
During this youth month, the entire Executive Council led by the Premier rolled up their sleeves to ensure that the lives of many young people were transformed. The province embarked on a rigorous implementation orientation youth month program where a significant number of young people from different towns benefitted from various government programmes and opportunities.
With the soaring unemployment rate in the province, EXCO took a deliberate and strategic decision to invest in startups and existing small and medium enterprises with the potential to grow and create employment. One of the cardinal prerequisites was that these businesses must be youth owned and managed.
Secondly, these business ventures must be able to change the fortunes of our people.
During the course of this month, young entrepreneurs were beneficiaries of tens of millions of financial support, training and skills development programmes, initiatives that will surely empower them for the future.
Resuscitation of the agricultural sector has been one of our key areas of focus. A land audit has been done, and young people will be prioritised. These were the expressed sentiments of the Premier.
Twenty-two young farmers from various towns of the province were given startup and development grants to the value of twenty-two million through the Department of Agriculture’s Young Producers Entrepreneurs Strategic plan (YPES).
Others were provided with business and financial management skills and financial support by Economic Small Business Development Tourism and Environmental Affairs department.
Using the District Development Model, over thirty (30) engineers will be absorbed to assist municipalities across the province.
Today, over five hundred and fifty (550) young people from the five districts of the province were absorbed to undergo a skills development programme, where they will be trained in various trades such as plumbing, electricity, flooring, and carpentry and many more. These beneficiaries will receive a stipend for the duration of their training. It is a Forty-two million rand youth investment programme.
