The U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) has provided business start-up kits to 55 out-of-school adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) in Oshakati.
The initiative follows PEPFAR’s pledge to invest N$840 million (US$45 million) in providing health and social services to vulnerable children, adolescents, and youth in Namibia earlier this year.
The project was carried out in collaboration with the Ministry of Sport, Youth, and National Service, through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
“The equipment in these start-up kits will assist you in getting your businesses up and running. Education and economic self-reliance are key to a better life, as they help reduce vulnerability to HIV and empower Adolescent Girls and Young Women to be resilient and in a position to sustain themselves,” said USAID Country Representative McDonald Homer.
Tiffany Miller, U.S. Embassy Public Affairs Officer and Spokesperson, further explained that the project selects vulnerable adolescent girls and young women who have viable business ideas and provides them with financial and entrepreneurial training to start their own businesses.
“This Government-to-Government (G2G) project, with a budget of US$375,000 (N$7 million), implements programs to prevent HIV/AIDS among adolescent girls and young women in Namibia,” added Miller.
Miller also highlighted the importance of the initiative in strengthening the capacity of MSYNS to provide tailor-made services to out-of-school girls and their male partners, specifically in comprehensive life skills training, health education, and economic empowerment.
The businesses supported by the program range from poultry farming and bakeries to horticulture and hair salons.
Since its inception in 2003, PEPFAR has contributed over US$1.1 billion for HIV/AIDS activities in Namibia.
