Windhoek: One Economy Foundation in collaboration with First National Bank (FNB) of Namibia has launched 'yo! Empower to Earn,' an initiative aimed at empowering the youth.

According to Namibia Press Agency, FNB, through the FirstRand Namibia Foundation Trust, has committed approximately N.dollars 400,000 to the program. The initiative is set to uplift the youth by teaching them skills in areas such as hairdressing and barbering, agriculture and horticulture, and culinary arts and catering.

The program, which will commence at the end of this month, will initially focus on three towns: Rehoboth, Groot Aub, and Okahandja, identified for their high youth unemployment rates. Speaking at the launch in Windhoek, Executive Director of One Economy Foundation, Pauline Thomas Kahupi, expressed her pride in the initiative and partnership with FNB, highlighting the program's alignment with the organization's goal to transform African youth's lives.

She emphasized that addressing youth unemployment requires long-term solutions and noted that the foundation is committed to enabling young people to become change makers. Also present at the event, Nesdha De Jongh, Head of Small and Medium Enterprises Banking at FNB, stressed the importance of collaboration and transparent dialogue for fostering inclusive growth.

De Jongh pointed out that equipping young people with practical and market-relevant skills is essential for enabling income generation, building self-reliance, and supporting long-term economic contribution. He reaffirmed FNB's belief in the potential of young Namibians and the power of entrepreneurship to unlock sustainable economic participation, while noting that addressing youth unemployment requires collective effort.