I am amazed at how some of our young professionals are so ignorant of some of the opportunities available to them, only if they take cognisance of the programmes that government announces from podiums during commemorations such as Freedom Day, Youth Month, Human Rights Day and many more.

What also disappointed me most was that a group of youngsters I had an interaction with over the weekend didn’t even know about the young entrepreneurs’ opportunity that was announced by former premier
Mr David Mabuza through Standard Bank, where they can access funds to set them up in business. It was news to them, yet this was announced last September.
It is about time the youth, as we approach Youth Month, come up with commemorative programmes that are not only focused on entertainment but on empowering one another. It’s a well-known fact that during the official commemoration day, they will go out to different festivities which yield nothing but fun and waste of their resources and energies.

Young professionals are unemployed and lack skills to be easily absorbed into the working environment. What is it they are doing to deal with the situation? Volunteering in different work environments within their professions to gain the necessary experience?

They can also group themselves to concoct some business ideas, access the available funding in different funding institutions like the Mpumalanga Economic Growth Agency and many others, including Standard Bank.
Agriculture also plays an important role in accommodating them into the mainstream of food production and economic growth of the province, but they are shunning it. Look at the various farms that were acquired by the government for communities to farm. Most of them are lying dormant, unproductive, and beneficiaries thereof are embroiled in squabbles over funds.

It’s disappointing for the country’s citizens to be so ignorant of available opportunities around them. The problem that crops up is that they shun political meetings and even associating themselves with the different political parties to gain insight into what can uplift their livelihoods. Yes, not everybody can be a politician, but being knowledgeable of what’s on offer is vitally important. Take the time to peruse through various sites to acquire information and be a part of developing yourselves.

Blame games won’t assist anybody, but if you want to win in a situation, be a part of what the country offers you and see what comes out of it before it’s too late.