Volume 52 Issue 5- May 2014 : Career Corner

LILLIAN NKOSAZANA MOREMI

KUTLWANO MAY ISSUE

SECTON: CAREER CORNER

AN INSPIRED YOUTH, AN EMPOWERED NATION

Knowledge is power; by knowing what is happening within your environment one stands a better chance of identifying and realising opportunities for personal growth. One of the most important organisations that young people need to know about is Botswana National Youth Council, the mother body of all youth run activities. Affectionately known as BNYC, the organisation accountable to the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture was established in 1974 by a Presidential Directive.

An inspired youth, an empowered nation is the slogan of the BNYC and the organisation`s mission is to create a sustained and enabling environment that will empower a young person in all aspects of human development through co-ordination, collaboration, networking, lobbying and advocacy with various stakeholders.

BNYC is responsible for co-ordinating youth NGOs, advising the government on youth issues, disseminating information to the young people and mobilising the youth to access government youth services and products such as Youth Development Fund (YDF), CEDA, Young Farmers, Youth Empowerment Scheme (YES) and other youth orientated government services.

The organisation is able to deliver to the young people through its structures and organs being the general assembly, national executive committee and the District Youth Councils/ Committees (DYCs). Youth non-governmental organisations can affiliate with BNYC and together drive the goals of the Revised National Youth Policy (RNYP) 2010. The Secretariat headed by the Executive Director and affiliates are the implementation structures of the council`s youth development programmes and projects while the executive committee and DYCs are governance structures. The work of the Secretariat and affiliates is aligned to the expectations of the RNYP (2010)`s twelve strategic areas, which are;

1. Youth Employment
2. Youth, Poverty and Hunger
3. Youth and Leadership Development
4. Vulnerable Youth
5. Youth, Sports, Recreation and Creative Arts
6. Youth and Environment
7. Youth Moral and Spiritual Development
8. Youth and Health
9. Youth and Culture
10. Youth, Education, Skills Development and Training
11. Youth, Gender and Development
12. Science and Information Technology

The BNYC currently has fifty youth NGO affiliates being; Botswana Council of Churches, Botswana Red Cross Society, Botswana Scouts Association, Botswana Workcamps Association, Botswana Young Peoples Convention, Botswana Family Welfare Association, Reetsanang Association of Drama Groups, Scripture Union Botswana, Young Women Christian Association, Botswana Girl Guides Association, Junior Chamber International Botswana, Motswedi Community based Rehabilitation Centre, Youth in Development, National 4B Foundation, Junior Achievement Botswana, Youth Health Organisation, Association of Environmental Clubs of Botswana, Botswana Youth in Politics Trust, Youth in Wildlife, Tourism and Conservation, Young Women`s Forum Botswana, Maikano Youth Wellness Association, Youth Alliance for Leadership and Development in Africa (YALDA), Humanitarian Youth League, Remmmogo Youth Organisation, Botswana Federation of Disabled, Golden Horses Riding Club, Young Men`s Association, Men, Sex and AIDS, Jubiliant Rehabilitation Centre, AIESEC, Botswana Society for the Arts, Botswana Students Organisation, Stepping Stones International, Dumela International Association, ASSITEJ International Botswana, BOCAIP Gumare Counselling Association, Makgabaneng, The Social Arm Psychosocial support initiative, KAST Foundation, Orbit of Mercury Association, Inner Self Confidence Organisation 4 Life, Organisation for Youth And Elections in Botswana, Youth in Action Society, Fountain of Hope for the Future Organisation, Boteti Performing Arts Remedy, Botswana Jobs for Graduates, A RE Tsheleng Foundation, Thapong Visual Arts, Intercollege Christian Movement of Botswana and; Botswana Student Network.

I would like to urge all young people to visit the district youth offices in their regions to find out more about how best BNYC can serve one as a young person. The main BNYC offices can be found at the Gaborone Multipurpose Youth Centre opposite BOTEC (Fairgrounds). Some of the affiliates organisation can be located at Lady Olebile Masire National Youth Centre (Ga Mma-Masire) in G-West, Gaborone. For those who are interested in finding organisations to do voluntary work can consider the above-mentioned organisations. As the youth let us continue to be active citizens; through continuous efforts to better our lives and of those around us we surely do take Botswana to greater heights.

Contact us on ccbotswana@gmail.com

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