“It’s all about more opportunities in financing, jobs and demand in the market for green products,” said 24 year-old Mmakhutso Aphane when asked about the impact of green transition on economic opportunities for youth in Eswatini.
Ms Aphane is the Project Coordinator at Green Living Movement Eswatini, a non-government organisation that seeks to empower communities for poverty reduction through environmental conservation. She is passionate about advocacy for environmental protection and recently participated in the Africa Green Waste Energy Expo and Summit 2023.
“The whole community, locally and internationally, is now embracing the youth and green skills, so that is a plus for us,” Aphane added.
Ms Aphane also acknowledges that green skills bring both negative and positive impacts. However, she strongly believes that “the positive impact outweighs the negative.”
On August 11, 2023, Ms Aphane was part of a panel discussion that showcased green skills by young people in Eswatini during the International Youth Day at Siteki Hotel. The event was attended by 100 young people from the four regions of Eswatini, who came together to celebrate their achievements and learn more about green skills and sustainable development.
The event was themed “Green Skills for Youth: Towards a Sustainable Future”, which aimed to raise awareness and inspire action among the youth on environmental issues and opportunities. The event also marked the launch of the National Youth Policy 2021-2030, which provides a strategic framework and guidance for youth empowerment and development in Eswatini.
In sharing a message from UN Secretary General, UNFPA Head of Office Ms Magaret Thwala-Tembe called for improved investments in young people. “Today and every day, let’s support and stand with young people in shaping a just and sustainable world, for people and planet,” she said.
The Head of Office further shared how the UN in Eswatini was supporting young Emaswati to ensure that they reach their full potential.
“UN Eswatini remains committed to the development of all young people through addressing three pillars of the national youth policy: youth economic empowerment; health and wellbeing; as well as education.”
In his keynote address, the Minister of Sports, Culture and Youth Affairs, Hon. Harries Bulunga, highlighted the importance of green skills for youth in achieving youth economic participation and the sustainable development goals (SDGs). The Minister was represented by Director of Youth Affairs Mr Bheki Thwala, who urged young Emaswati to take advantage of the various programs and initiatives that the government and its partners were offering to support their education, employment, entrepreneurship, and innovation.
“Youth constitutes a large portion of Eswatini’s population, but it was shocking to receive only 394 applications on the first phase of the Youth Enterprise Revolving Fund. This revealed that young people do not jump to grab opportunities for their empowerment. As a Ministry, we keep encouraging them to take action on these opportunities to improve themselves,” Thwala said.
The event also featured a panel discussion on some green skills in Eswatini, moderated by Ms Zandisile Howe, a member of the Eswatini Climate Change Youth Parliament. The panelists included representatives from the Eswatini Environment Authority, University of Eswatini, and youth-led organizations working on green skills. The panelists shared their insights and experiences on various topics such as renewable energy, waste management, organic farming, eco-tourism, green entrepreneurship, and environmental advocacy.
The youth day launch event was a successful and memorable occasion that showcased the achievements and aspirations of the youth in Eswatini. It also provided an opportunity for dialogue and networking among the youth and various stakeholders on green skills and sustainable development.
