One Economy Foundation equips 90 rural young people with entrepreneurship skills

The One Economy Foundation has equipped 90 young people at Groot Aub, Rehoboth, and Okahandja with entrepreneurship skills and starter kits to combat unemployment.

The youth opportunity pillar under the One Economy Foundation has begun rolling out practical training for the participants of its recently launched #EmpowerToEarn initiative.

The initiative, in partnership with the FirstRand Namibia Foundation Trust, seeks to bridge the gap between skills development and economic participation by equipping young people outside urban centres with practical, income-generating skills to address unemployment.

A total of 30 young people from each town participated in a two-day intensive workshop which combined hands-on technical training with entrepreneurship and financial literacy sessions.

The training sessions took place between 26 February and 5 March, focusing on the business set-up and growth, as well as basic financial decision-making, costing and marketing.

The content was based on research done at the three towns in 2025, where more than 450 young people were consulted on the skills they wanted to acquire.

The findings identified catering and baking, hairdressing and barbering, as well as agriculture and crop production as areas with strong income-earning potential.

Participants received instruction from experienced entrepreneurs and industry practitioners who guided them on practical techniques and business fundamentals, such as pricing, budgeting, marketing and record-keeping.

One Economy’s director of operations, Saddam Biwa, says the practical skills acquired would help the young people generate sustainable income.

“We looked at skills development in a broader sense and asked how best we can capacitate young people in these communities. This was achieved through evidence-based skills selection,” he says.

First National Bank Namibia’s Cornelius Onkgoditse during the training explained the importance of disciplined budgeting, accumulating savings, and avoiding unnecessary debt.

Rehoboth Urban East constituency councillor Edward Wambo urged the youth to put the knowledge and skills they have learnt to good use.

Participants were also provided with starter kits related to their chosen skills to help them start their own businesses.

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