The Minister of Gender, Youth, Sports and Recreation Mrs. ‘Mathabiso Lepono presented a M93, 000.00 cheque to three youth associations in Mafeteng at a function held at Mafeteng hotel on Thursday.

The money is a loan intended to assist unemployed youth to establish businesses, hence reduce the high number of unemployed youth in the district.

Recipients in this regard are youth associations namely Iteke Mocha, Re Hatelapele and Khothalanag Bana ba Thari-e-Nts'o who will undertake different business projects.

Presenting the chegue, Mrs. Lepono said with the loan, the government of Lesotho aspires to improve the lives of young people in the district, saying beneficiaries will establish smart businesses of their choice.

She therefore urged beneficiaries to use the money properly and work hard to ensure sustainability of their projects.

Also speaking, the District Administrator for Mafeteng Mr. Teboho Lehloenya congratulated the ministry of Gender for equipping youth with the necessary skills to start their own projects.

He however said a loan is a commitment which needs responsible people, urging recipients to show commitment in projects they will establish.

Mr. Lehloenya warned youth against HIV/AIDS which he said hinders many people to achieve their dreams, especially young people who are common victims for lack of necessary information.

On behalf of the recipients, Mrs. ‘Malereko Cherei thanked the Ministry of Gender and Youth for granting them a loan as well as providing them with the necessary skills to establish and run their businesses.

She pledged their commitment in ensuring that they repay the loan.
The proposed business projects to be undertaken include brick-making, poultry, dress making and tailoring.

Recipients have been trained under the Sustain and Improve Your Business Project where they were equipped with skills on business management and administration as well as bookkeeping.

The initiative to boost youth is a pilot project running in the districts of Qacha’s nek, Mafeteng, Maseru and Leribe, and the fund is expected to cover other remaining districts of the country.

Source: LENA 21/08/2008