WAD excels in community training

Over 150 unemployed and police officers in Kavango West Region this month graduated from a free three-month skills training programme.The training was offered by the Women Action for Development (WAD) aimed at equipping the unemployed with skills for them to become employable citizens, or employers.The graduates were trained in the fields of computer literacy, office administration, hospitality, tailoring, aspects of the Namibian constitution, human rights and the tenets of gender-related laws, gender-based violence and substance abuse. Kavango West Region, being amongst the poorest regions, has a high rate of youth unemployment which sees the region faced with ample challenges including criminal activities attributed to alcohol and drug abuse.Talking on the importance of the programme, WAD executive director, Salatiel Shinedima said that equipping the unemployed and unqualified youth with the necessary skills is one of way in which societal issues such as poverty will be addressed.Shinedima described the situation of youth unemployment as a social disaster.“Being young and unemployed can lead to increased risk of poverty, and social exclusion. Being young and unemployed can lead to loss of self-motivation, self-esteem and self-confidence as well as to hopelessness,” Shinedima said.Shinedima said that studies have indicated that the use of alcohol and drug abuse amongst the youth is as a result of unemployment.“High youth unemployment has a negative effect on the economic growth and productivity of the country. There is a risk of loss of talent and skills since a great amount of youth are unable to find a job and put their knowledge and capabilities into producing innovation and contributing to economic growth,” Shinedima said.Furthermore, Shinedima said that youth unemployment has forced some desperate people to falsify information on their curriculum vitae (CVs) just to secure a job.“Young people desperate to find good jobs are tempted to lie on their CVs with the hope to convince their future employers that they are qualified for the position. Desperate times call for desperate measures,” he said.“Therefore, we need to create a labour market that is inclusive and fair. Inclusive in a sense that it caters for inexperienced and unqualified Namibians.”The graduation event was attended by the deputy minister of public enterprises, Veikko Nekundi, who implored that the graduates to use their acquired skills to develop their communities and contribute to economic growth.“Graduates, make use of the brand new knowledge and skills gained during the training programmes to the best of your abilities by initiating vibrant entrepreneurial projects strategically throughout the localities of Namibia,” Nekundi said.Nekundi said that the ministry is always open to any innovative idea from members of the public.KENYA KAMBOWE

WAD excels in community training

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Namibian Sun 2025-09-16

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WAD excels in community training

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Namibian Sun 2025-09-16

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