The North West Department of Agriculture and Rural Development alongside various state organisations conferred about 242 participants of the National Rural Service Corps (NARYSEC) with certificates of qualification during a graduation ceremony that was held in Mahikeng.
According to the department, the graduates were recruited in collaboration with municipalities across the province in line with the District Development Model (DDM).
The group completed training in various fields such as Mixed Farming, Beauty and Nail Technology, Tourist Guiding and Accommodation Services among others.
During the ceremony, MEC Madoda Sambatha reaffirmed the provincial government’s commitment to support young people and provide them with skills development opportunities, in a bid to address the plague of unemployment.
“Given the scale of youth unemployment, failure is not an option, your historic background is not your fault.
However, your future is your responsibility.
Know that what the government has provided for you today is for your personal development and for you to make meaningful changes in your communities.
Let us not be a nation of consumers but let us use the skills we have learned to keep improving our lives,” said Sambatha.
His remarks were echoed by the Deputy Director-General for Rural Development, Nomtandazo Moyo, when she emphasized the significance of fostering partnerships to empower rural communities and promote sustainable development.
The NARYSEC is one of the programmes the provincial government aims to use to enhance entrepreneurship and equip residents with the necessary tools to improve their livelihoods.
