Govt praised for youth fund boost

Acting Director of the Department of Youth Development in the Ministry of Information, Youth, Culture and Sports, James Kajugusi.

The government has been hailed for increasing the youth’s fund budget hence opening doors for them to contribute to national development.

Acting Director of the Department of Youth Development in the Ministry of Information, Youth, Culture and Sports, James Kajugusi said on Wednesday.

Addressing the Femina Hip Annual Youth Conference in Dar es Salaam, Kajugusi said the government has in this financial year set aside 6.1bn/- for the youth fund to allow more youths benefit from the loans. He noted that funds allocated for youths in previous fiscal years were not enough compared to demand.

“The increased budget in the youths’ fund has opened doors for many youths in groups across the country to easily acquire loans,” said Kajugusi, adding that the government aims to support youths as it recognises their contribution to national development.

He called upon youths across the country to form groups so that they can easily access loans from the youth fund and vijana saccos which have been established in every district. He said through the funds, the youths can engage themselves in entrepreneurial activities instead of waiting for formal employment.

He suggested for the introduction of a subject on entrepreneurial skills in education curriculum and the need for participatory teaching methods to build youths capacity in terms of thinking, innovation and creativity.

“We have invested in youth economic development and mobilisation because we need to have independent fathers and mothers in the future who will be able to run their lives through self employment,” he said.

Femina Board member, Astronaut Bagile called upon the youth to respect and embrace volunteerism especially in social issues without thinking of getting any payment, saying it is the best way for them to improve their skills and create networks that will help them reach their goals.

Raswiu Rashid, a student from Nakake Secondary School in Karagwe said he has learned that volunteerism pays because it helps one sharpen their skills.

SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN