Voices from Namibia: The Commonwealth Youth Credit Initiative

A Village Savings Banker in the Northern Namibia provides banking facilities to community members who otherwise cannot do business with commercial banks due primarily to the "insignificant" size of their business transactions.  Yet, these Village & Savings Banks provides opportunities for community members to improve their own livelihoods and that of their community as a whole. The Savings and Credit Associations (SCAs) is one such Village & Savings Bank that the Commonwealth Youth Credit Initiative (CYCI) depends on to deliver a youth employment programme in Namibia.

 

Through the Youth Enterprise and Sustainable Livelihoods (YESL) Programme and the CYCI, the Commonwealth works to provide workable solutions to the problems of youth unemployment. This is achieved through the provision of skills and in some cases seed funds to start up or expand on businesses.

 

According to Sakira Kutondokwa, a young Namibia man "I had a business idea; I wanted to rear and sell cattle, I had grown up in a cattle rearing family, I knew how to tend to cattle and knew I could be good at it but I did not have any money to start.  I heard about the CYCI project from the SCA and decided to approach them for funding to start my business.  I not only received the loan but most importantly, I received training in business management skills which has really helped me to manage my business.  I am also able to keep records of my accounts, make my repayments and also save.  I no longer depend on my parents and am able to make a living."

 

Rosina Auala and Sam Davids both had small businesses before joining the CYCI programme in Namibia.  Both were engaged in petty trading with little or no growth in their business. Once they signed up to the CYCI Pilot Programme, they gained business skills to properly manage their business and were able to access loans to grow their businesses.  According to Rosina, "some people claim the loan size is small; I think that the size of the loan depends on the business you intend to engage in.  Look at me, I have grown my businesses from a street corner type vending to a shop which I own and manage and my livelihood has improved."

 

Sam Davids also emphasises "I have managed to diversify my business.  I not only engage in petty trading I have expanded my business and am able to provide services to the community. I have been able to procure materials that I needed that could not buy earlier.  I have procured equipment such as grinders, welding and drilling machines which the community members rent. I begun with a loan of N$700 repaid that, and then took out a second loan of N$1500 which I am currently repaying.  Once done I intend to get a third loan to enable me procure more equipment to service my community.

 

The CYCI utilises an integrated development approach by working with governments, partner organisations, the private sector, civil society, youth structures and young people themselves.  In the Africa Region, financial and technical support has been provided under the YESL programme at different levels in Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia and Uganda to assist young men and women improve and sustain their livelihoods.