Africa-Press – Eswatini. Rural youth are not just dreamers, they are doers, if only they are given access to the right opportunities.
This was the message from Ellis Dlamini, a farmer and chairperson of Velezizweni Youth, who spoke after receiving transformative business training under the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) at the American Corner in Manzini.
The training was sponsored by the United States Embassy in Eswatini and attracted young entrepreneurs from across the country.
Dlamini said rural youth could be catalysts for economic growth, provided they had access to decent work, mentorship, and the resources needed to turn ideas into reality.
“We as rural youth can play a vital role as catalysts for economic growth if we have access to decent work. Our energy, creativity and willingness to take risks can drive economic growth and transform rural communities,” he told Eswatini Positive News.
He emphasised that young entrepreneurs required educational programmes, mentorship opportunities, financial resources and specialised training to successfully navigate the challenges of starting and sustaining businesses.
According to Dlamini, rural entrepreneurship was more than just a survival mechanism. It could also help tackle poverty by creating jobs and improving livelihoods within communities. He said young entrepreneurs often tapped into sectors such as agriculture, handicrafts, tourism and renewable energy, which in turn promoted sustainable development.
“By empowering young people through education, access to capital and opportunities for entrepreneurship, we can harness their potential to drive innovation, create jobs and contribute to a more inclusive and sustainable economy,” Dlamini explained.
He further urged policymakers and stakeholders to close the gap between rural and urban youth.
“Authorities must take a closer look at rural youth because we are ready to play our part in reducing unemployment. Every young person deserves equal access to resources and support services,” he said.
Dlamini also expressed gratitude to the US Embassy for investing in Eswatini’s youth, describing its role as transformative.
“We are seeing the US Embassy as a sunshine that fades the darkness in our lives and lights our road to redemption. Having embassies like theirs is not just a gift, but a gift that keeps giving. Everything we have been taught here, we will take back to our communities and make it a great benefit to them,” he said.
The YALI training is part of an ongoing effort to build a new generation of leaders and entrepreneurs in Eswatini, equipping them with the tools to transform their communities from the ground up.
For Ellis Dlamini and his peers, the message was clear: rural youth are ready, all they need is a chance.
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