Help youths realise their potential

The youth face a myriad of societal problems today. As in previous generations, the social issues facing today’s youth can have significant effects on how they will eventually turn out as they reach adulthood.

The Government needs to help our youth by addressing these issues. Some youths despite being well-educated and with good academic credentials lack a vision.

The fact that jobs are scarce does not give them a licence to engage in criminal activities and drug abuse as a means to “survive”.

Youths should realise they have varied talents which can, with some creativity, be utilised to earn a living and change the world. There is need to engage them so that they can discover their talents which can also be money-making ventures.

Our education system has also failed our youths due to the slow economic growth, corruption, nepotism and demand for experience by potential employers. A good number of youths remain unemployed.

There is need to reconstruct the education system so as to include universally desirable values that are necessary for producing well-rounded, balanced and useful youths.

The Government has come up with the Access to Government Procurement Opportunities certificate, which many youths have, but getting business has been a great challenge as cartels and corrupt officials control procurement departments. This has discouraged our youths.

Another challenge is that traditionally financial institutions have avoided lending to the youth.

The Government needs to allow the youth to access funds either as individuals or as groups from the Youth Enterprise Development Fund. The collateral to secure the monies borrowed should be made affordable in the sense that group members can guarantee each other.