Africa-Press – Tanzania. YOUTH have been urged to creatively apply funds from the local authority to transform their social and economic wellbeing in line with the government development vision.
This call was made by a nongovernmental organization—Endless Success Foundation, whose Director, Ms Amina Feruz said the funds issued by local councils to special groups youth, women and people with disabilities is meant to expand opportunities to improve entrepreneurial- based activities and subsequently lower unemployment rate.
“The main requirement is for the youth to set some groups with specific mission to access such funds… this is an opportunity youth should not lose,” she told reporters in Dodoma.
According to the director, the government’s endorsed strategy is designed to help young people become proactive by developing and managing individual projects.
She urged that such creative and well-formed idea will help individuals and communities socially and economically.
Initially, the government enacted the legislation requiring youth seeking the 4 percent share of the council’s revenue to have a registered business.
The prerequisite was later dropped allowing them to organise into groups and apply for the interestfree loan.
Ms Feruz explained that her organization is currently working to help the group on how best to apply for the funds as well as linking them with experts especially in project writing.
“Equally, we are also helping the youth in financial management by providing awareness based training to groups planning to apply for the loan,” she said.
Speaking at the training session one of the participants, Juma Mrisho thanked the government for adopting the legislation saying it will help increase the participation of youth in social and economic activities across the country.
He said a dozen number of youth have solid projects unfortunately the question surrounding sources of funds has been discouraging them to advance their ideas.
“We are seeing more youth are leaving the streets and starting up their businesses and this is a good thing,” he said. Mrisho went on to add: “this is time for us as youth to act and not producing empty complaints.”
Joackim Majengo on other development urged youth to produce ideas that can result in competitive brands in global market.
He said the ideas must reflect a middle income country that Tanzania has become.
