Govt to increase number youths benefiting from the youth fund

——————- Government says it will next year increase the number of youths benefiting from the youth development fund in rural parts of the country.

Youth and Sports Deputy Minister Christopher Mulenga says government wants to see many youths in rural areas accessing the empowerment funds to enable them sustain their livelihood.

Mr Mulenga disclosed that in the 2015 National Budget, the youth development fund has been increased to K29.1 million from the 2014 allocation of K20.3 million.

Mr. Mulenga was speaking in Kasama today when he handed out cheques and grants to successful youth groups in Northern Province who had applied for the funds.

He said the youth development fund was a revolving project meant to grow the entrepreneurship capacity of youths to do business freely and to better their lives.

Mr. Mulenga has since advised beneficiaries of the youth funds to make sure that they pay back their loans so that others can also benefit.

And Northern Province Minister Freedom Sikazwe said the funding of youths in the province will assist youths to become productive in their business ventures.

In a speech read for him by Provincial Permanent Secretary Hlobotha Nkunika, Mr. Sikazwe said the demand for youth empowerment is very high in the province hence the need for government to sustain the programme.

He further urged youth groups to take advantage of the flexible loans from the Ministry of Youth and Sport to embark on sustainable business ventures.