Frustrated BDP youth question silly schemes

Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Thursday April 9, 2015 18:00

 

BDP youth wing chairman Andy Boatile told Mmegi that they will meet with the minister over weekend, to discuss the scheme, which will target unemployed graduates youth not in the Internship programme.  The programme will see young graduates attached to organisations that have opportunities for volunteer work.

The new Graduate Volunteer Scheme adds to a pile of programmes that the government has introduced in recent years to keep the unemployed youth off the streets, among them Ipelegeng, Youth Empowerment Scheme (YES), backyard gardening, volunteer policing, Tirelo Sechaba, and Youth Grant scheme.

“We want the minister to explain the purpose of the new scheme and what they want to achieve. Our view is that the new scheme contradicts with the old schemes. Again the way it had been presented its purpose looks to be more similar with old schemes. I believe the ministry should improve old schemes rather than coming up with new ones,” Boatile said.

He said many schemes would end up failing to address what the government tries to achieve and it would be difficult for the programmes to be monitored well.

“My personal take is... kgang e eka nna botoka ele unemployment allowance given to graduates for three months after their graduation, Go thusa gore ba senke ditiro.”

Perhaps out of frustration and embarrassment, the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) Youth Executive Committee plan meeting the minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Thapelo Olopeng over the newly introduced graduate scheme.

He said the money would help graduates to travel from one place to the other while looking for jobs and making copies for their certificates. 

Boatile feels that they could then join internship programme three months later if they are still not employed anywhere.

The purpose of the new scheme is to facilitate skills development and transfer to young graduates, contribute to community development, promote the spirit of volunteerism, improve resilience of the graduate youth, and reduce idle time.