By Staff Reporter
WINDHOEK, Aug. 17 — Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in Namibia hold a pivotal role in tackling our nation’s critical challenges, including unemployment and educational disparities. Recent statistics underscore the pressing nature of these issues, revealing a 23% unemployment rate and a staggering 46% youth unemployment rate within Namibia. TVET emerges as a potent driver for both economic advancement and social progress, by furnishing young individuals with the essential skills necessary to enter the labour market and fostering an entrepreneurial spirit.
In a commendable effort, the Capricorn Foundation stepped forward on Thursday, August 10, 2023, by donating 26 business start-up toolkits to 26 young women hailing from Oshiku. These women had recently concluded a six-month electrical course as part of the Determined, Resilient, Empowered, Aids-Free, Mentored, and Safe (DREAMS) Programme, an initiative spearheaded by Project Hope Namibia (PHN).
Veripura Muukua, Capricorn Foundation Coordinator, articulated, “With a focus on enhancing economic prospects through the development of entrepreneurial skills, the Capricorn Foundation strives to empower positive change. We acknowledge the significance of technical proficiency alongside academic pursuits, thus advocating for a holistic approach that integrates both scholastic and occupational training. We wholeheartedly commend Project Hope for their dedication and contributions to empowering young women to unlock their potential for independence.”
Ester Shapwa, a beneficiary of the program, recounted her journey. She joined the DREAMS Programme in 2020 during her tenth-grade year. “The multifaceted initiatives under the program have had a profound influence on me, instilling newfound confidence. In 2022, I received exceptional news: I had been accepted into a six-month Electrical Engineering course with all expenses covered by the DREAMS Programme. Today, I possess the skills to repair various electrical appliances,” she shared.
The DREAMS project strategically identifies and engages adolescent girls and young women through key community entry points, including schools, clinics, and local leadership offices. This engagement process involves comprehensive screening to discern individual needs, with a particular focus on those most vulnerable (such as those out of school, engaged in transactional sex, facing household food insecurity, or pregnant). Beneficiaries falling within these vulnerable brackets are eligible for poverty alleviation support.
“The journey towards economic empowerment initiates with fostering financial literacy, coupled with specialized education in job readiness and business acumen. Young women are then channelled into industry-specific vocational training, facilitated by partnering institutions. Subsequent connections to job opportunities and business ventures are seamlessly provided. Our heartfelt gratitude goes to the Capricorn Foundation for their invaluable support in equipping the 26 beneficiaries with these business toolkits. This empowerment equips them to confidently navigate the market and seek out opportunities,” remarked Simon Mathias, DREAMS Deputy Chief of the Party.
Central to its mission, the DREAMS Programme endeavours to curtail new HIV infections among adolescent girls and young women—an especially vulnerable group with higher HIV infection risks compared to their male counterparts. The program, funded by the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) via USAID, is efficiently executed by Project HOPE Namibia in collaboration with strategic partners. This collaborative approach ensures a comprehensive range of services, significantly enhancing the quality of life for vulnerable Adolescent Girls and Young Women (AGYW) across the Oshikoto, Khomas, and Zambezi regions. PHN, in close partnership with governmental ministries and various public and private entities, actively champions these transformative efforts.
