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Youth hope for a better 2025

As 2025 settles in, young people are embracing the new year with fresh hope and determination.

Some youth like Penomwaameni Natangwe, Nicolette Swartbooi, Rosy Khaxas and Zhendijago Dausab are determined by the notion that 2025 will come with change and growth after the hardships faced in previous years.

Natangwe (23) is an author and aspiring clinical psychologist who has already made her mark by being a young African author publishing a book about mental health at the age of 18.

Despite the challenges she has faced, which include balancing her career and studies, she is hopeful about 2025.

“I am excited by the leadership of president Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah and look forward to an engaging platform with youths on burning issues such as mental health awareness and community development,” she says.

She adds that she plans to advance mental health education and entrepreneurship, especially in rural areas where opportunities are limited.

Natangwe’s drive is a reflection of the bigger hope that the youth of Namibia and beyond can turn challenges into opportunities for growth.

Equally passionate, Swartbooi (23)also shared her hopes for the new year.

These hinge on issues within her community, especially regarding the !Nara plant, which provides them with income.
She emphasises sustainability, education and job creation.

“We need to protect our natural resources, especially the !Nara plant, and develop rural areas with better access to education and employment,” Swartbooi says.

She highlights the importance of addressing substance abuse through awareness campaigns, recognising that such challenges often arise from a lack of opportunities.

For Khaxas (19) from a rural community at Utuseb, 2024 was a year filled with personal struggles.

“I struggled with mental health issues, time management and self-doubt,” she says.

“I want to manage my time better, work on my self-awareness and learn new skills to better myself,” she adds.

Khaxas says she believes youth empowerment lies in giving young people quality education, training and opportunities for engagement.

“We have to create an enabling and inclusive environment where young people can just be themselves and bring their identities and perspectives,” she says.

Meanwhile, Dausab (20) reflects on how unemployment is high among rural youth, as well as a lack of basic amenities like education and connectivity.

“We need to be involved in decision-making processes because we know the issues we face on a daily basis,” he says, emphasising the importance of youth representation.

Dausab’s hopes for 2025 include better access to education and training, as well as more opportunities for entrepreneurship.

He also calls for improved agricultural practices to support rural youth in business development.

“We have to make sure the rural areas’ youth enjoy the same opportunities and services as in the urban towns,” he says.

What they have in common, however, is the deeper belief that youth are capable of leading change within their communities and their futures.

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