By Politico Staff Writer
As part of its effort to cut down on youth unemployment in the country, the National Commission for Social Action (NaCSA) has conducted training on entrepreneurship for 34 youths.
The training conducted with support from the German international development agency, GIZ, under the Employment Promotional Programme (EPP III), drew participants from three districts with some of the most deprived communities in Sierra Leone - Kailahun, Kenema and Kono. Beneficiaries from Kailahun and Kenema were trained in the Kenema District Council Hall, whilst those from Kono were trained in the Kono District Council Hall.
The training also fell under the Facility for Innovation (F4I) project, which is designed to support employment opportunities for young people with innovative business ideas.
NaCSA said the primary goal of the project is to reduce the high rate of youth unemployment with the view of improving on their skills, capabilities and businesses. Officials added that the participants were selected based on their special and proven skills in their respective fields, and called on them to recognize their uniqueness and channel their energies towards establishing big businesses in the country.
Speaking at the Kono event, Senior Director of Quality Assurance and Programme Development, Dr. Susan Robert, congratulated the beneficiaries for been selected among thousands. She then urged them to strive towards becoming employers rather than employees.
Ms Roberts said the project was in line with President Julius Maada Bio’s vision of developing the country’s human capital which will improve its standing on the Human Development Index. She also advised them to be diligent in their respective businesses and to be very sensitive to the changing business environment.
The NaCSA Programme Manager for the GIZ funded EPP III, Leonard Moseray, expressed delight over the competence of the young people selected for the program. He also advised them to maintain the passion they have, revealing that they would be given start-up capital provided by GIZ but managed by NaCSA. The package, Mr Moseray said, included procurement of the needed equipment and raw materials they would need to actualise their dreams, noting that the objective of the project is to improve on the private sector youth employment with innovative ideas.
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