Mobile Telecommunications Limited (MTC) on Tuesday launched the ‘MTC 4LIFE’ project, a socio-economic initiative aimed at reducing youth unemployment and empowering Namibians to become self-employed in the Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) sector.

This will be done through a training and upscaling programme for young people aged 21 to 35 years old to gain practical and entrepreneurial skills, as well as a life-changing opportunity to earn a living in the fields of photography, graphic design, barbering, make-up, nail technology, hairdressing, catering, sewing, baking, and manufacturing.

The total cost of the project is N.dollars 2.6 million.

MTC’s Chief Human Capital, Corporate Affairs and Marketing Officer, Tim Ekandjo, at the launch said the project will aid and empower at least 50 individuals from all 14 regions, who will be identified to receive business and financial training, as well as start-up toolkits, to enable them to start their own micro-businesses immediately after training.

“The ‘MTC for Life’ project is an innovative project aimed at making other people’s dreams come true across all business types, and the training will be provided by 10 professionals from the chosen fields,” he said. For each of the identified professions, MTC has partnered with a reputable and previously disadvantaged SME Namibian company within that profession to provide individual candidates with three to ten days of practical training.

Ekandjo further noted that in order to fully prepare these candidates for their respective trades, an entrepreneurial course will be offered in addition to the practical training.

“In addition to practical training, the candidates will receive comprehensive entrepreneurship training from the project’s partner, Twapewa Kadhikwa Entrepreneurship Academy. The academy will train and manage these candidates on their journey to becoming successful self-employed citizens,” he said.

Kadhikwa, who is an entrepreneur, on her part stated that the training will strictly introduce trainees to locally tailored business behaviours and how they can grow their businesses.

“Competence drives an enterprise, and it comes with a clear vision of what you want to achieve. As a result, we will be honing your skills to ensure that your businesses grow and that you can transfer skills to the next person,” she explained.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency