Helping hand More than 8 000 unemployed youths have applied for a digital enabler programme in Namibia. The MTC 4Life initiative is a NAD2.6 million socio-economic project aimed at combating poverty by reducing youth unemployment and assisting locals to become self employed within the country’s small-business sector. It was launched late last year. The programme offers business and financial training in 10 trades, according to the Namibian Economist. About 20 applicants have been shortlisted for each trade, and the project is set to start in February. ‘A total of 50 unemployed youth individuals from all 14 regions will be receiving business and financial training, and upon completion, receive start-up toolkits to allow them to start their micro-businesses immediately after training,’ says Erasmus Nekundi, MTC public relations officer. The trades include photographer, graphic designer, barber, hairdresser, nail technician, make-up artist, caterer, baker, tailor, and brick manufacturer. To provide practical training, MTC will partner with Namibian SMEs for each trade. 17 January 2023 Image: Unsplash