We will support you, govt assures

DAILY NEWS Reporter

THE government will continue to provide a supportive environment to development partners, towards supplementing its efforts to help the youth in the country to address their problems.

The remark was made recently by the Deputy Minister for Labour, Employment and Youth, Mr Anthony Mavunde.

He was speaking in Dar es Salaam while presiding over a European Union funded programme to Plan International Youth Economic Empowerment (YEE) phase one closure, under which 3,874,980.66 EUR (about 9,812,455,518/-) was spent.

Implemented in 10 councils in Dar es Salaam, Morogoro, Coast, Lindi and Mtwara regions, he said he was a witness to the EU’s spirited efforts particularly in empowering the youth with appropriate skills in line with the government’s industrialisation mission.

Citing Simiyu Region as a case study, where some youngsters borrowed 30m/- for establishing a factory for producing chalk for schools.

“I was very happy after visiting them, Zanzibar President Ali Mohamed Shein offered them a market in all of the Isles’ schools.

And after settling all their previous debts, they have taken a fresh one,” Mr Mavunde said.

In his remarks, the EU Team Leader, Economic and Governance Section, Simon Broeke, thanked the government for the supportive environment, explaining that one of their priorities was to contribute to building the future of the youth in Tanzania.

He explained that one of their major goals was to provide them with skills which could empower them to choose the right courses in their lives.

He explained that unlike in Europe where the aged were the majority, in Tanzania many young people were the workforce.

Another EU representative, Anna Constantini, said they decided to provide the funds to help the youth to become also self-employed and stop being dependents on their parents, banking additionally on their potential energy to work.

While handing over the project to the government, Plan International YEE Director, Dr Beatus Sambili, hinted that the EU funded project benefited 10,132 youths, with other stakeholders, including Voluntary Overseas Service (VSO) in its Innovative Skills Results programme, Vocational Education Training Authority (VETA), Uhamasishaji Hifadhi Kisarawe (UHIKI), Community Development and Relief Trust (CODERT) and CCBRT.

He praised the project for improving and increasing youth access to employment opportunities, besides promoting their economic empowerment since its inception.

“This project is part of the wider Plan International Country Strategic Plan-CSP111 of 2015-20 that aims to economically empower 57,000 marginalised youths.