By: Ngiinomenwa-vali Erastus
Youth with agricultural start-ups, concepts, and those from vocational centers are invited to submit their proposals to acquire seed capitals, announced MTC and partners.
The seed capital is the funds (N$1,4 million) that were raised through the We Race Together initiative that took place on 22 May 2022.
According to the statement released by MTC and partners this week.
MTC indicated that has been the objective that the funds raised will be channeled towards a social welfare cause(s) aimed at improving the destitute and living conditions of Namibians.
The funds will now be channeled to initiatives that are aimed at improving livelihoods in the areas of Food Security, SMEs, and Youth Empowerment.
The call for submission of proposals to acquire funds through grants has been opened until 13 September 2022.
According to the statement, the expression of interest invites established and aspiring gardeners who have the aspirations of bolstering existing gardens or establishing such for benefiting the community.
In addition, MTC and partners have also acknowledged the lack of start-up capital as a barrier to many youths, parallel to the rising numbers of young graduates.
The grant application is thus calling on young graduates particularly in the National Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) sector to start up their businesses.
MTC corporate communications practitioner, Fikameni Mathias, explained that the grants are aimed to support unemployed youth between the ages of 18 to 35.
Those who have a TVET qualification but cannot make ends meet because they do not have the equipment to start up their own small businesses can apply and submit their funding proposal.
He said MTC and partners are aware of young graduates who graduated from technical and vocational centers but cannot be absorbed by the market.
Even though the graduates have the skills they are unable to start of business because of the cost of machinery.
As a result, the grants will be used to procure at least 70 start-up equipment grants for unemployed graduates.
Furthermore, the funds are aimed at assisting the horticulture industry to support the establishment of planned Community Garden Projects and assist already existing Garden projects for the benefit of an identified community. Email: erastus@thevillager.com.na
