This took place between January 4 and 15, 2010 right across the country. The interactive orientation sessions outlined the application guidelines and served as well as the checklist. The recently re-formulated Youth Development Fund, which is now in the form of a 50 percent grant and 50 percent loan component, draws from the Youth Development Policy, which defines Youth. Eligibility under the Fund is for those between the ages of 18 to 29. There are other requirements, for example that an applicant be: - out of School; unemployed; or underemployed. There are further qualifications to this, for example underemployed includes persons earning less than P600 per month.
Based on its interests and ingrained development orientation, EBAT Consultants (Pty) Ltd did attend three of such youth business sensitising sessions; one in Gaborone, one in Francistown and one in Tati Siding Village. The Francistown session that took place on January 7 was facilitated by Phemelo Masilo of the Francistown regional youth office, at the Ntshe House-the government integrated office block. The meeting covered a detailed discussion/presentation of the entire application form, the guidelines and providing examples that made it easy for the participants to understand what is expected of them. It was made very clear that attendance of the orientation sessions was a pre-condition for accepting completed application forms, since in the past; several mistakes were done upon completion of the forms as applicants seemed to have lacked the necessary guidance.
