The Minister of Gender, Youth Sports and Recreation, Mrs.'Mathabiso Lepono officially opened Semonkong Youth Resource Centre on Friday.

Speaking at the occasion, the Minister said the Youth Centre is a social and recreational place intended to empower and strengthen the youth by providing comprehensive youth development through education and training in a safe and supervised environment.

She said the youth would benefit from the centre as it is equipped with a computer laboratory, which will enable them to communicate and share knowledge with their counterparts around the world.

“The centre will also be used to conduct counseling and HIV/AIDS voluntary testing, and therefore urged the entire community to know their status as they will get a free counseling and medication,” she said.

The Minister also urged parents to support the youth in establishment of other developmental projects that include planting of trees, and gardening as a way to earn a better living.

The representative of United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) to Lesotho Mrs. Aichatou Diawara Flambert said her organization has supported the Ministry in procuring recreational equipment for young people to use at the center, with an understanding that the centre will be an incentive to young people in the area..

She also said starting from next year, UNICEF will enter into a new cooperation with the Government of Lesotho and gave assurance that children and young people will remain the top priority in an effort to assist the country to realize its vision 2020.

A representative of Semonkong Youth, Mr.Teboho Sekata, assured the Minister and donors that they will use the center effectively so that even future generations could benefit from it.

The centre is sponsored by Global fund in collaboration with the Government of Lesotho. Similar youth centres are in operation in the districts of Mokhotlong, Teyateyaneng and Leribe.

SOURCE: LENA 18/08/2007