Mbabane – The European Union in Eswatini on Friday hosted an interactive information session on the Youth Empowerment Fund at Mountain View Hotel in Mbabane, bringing together youth led and youth serving organisations from across the country.
The session focused on the Youth Empowerment Fund, a flagship initiative under the Youth Action Plan for EU External Action designed by, with and for young people. It was organised with the support of the European Union in Eswatini, the EU Eswatini Youth Advisory Board and the Eswatini National Youth Council.
EU Chargé d’Affaires José Becerra told participants that the fund was intended to create practical opportunities for young people to drive change within their communities.
“It is our hope that through the fund, we can provide opportunities for mentoring, coaching and capacity strengthening; unlock opportunities for marginalised and under represented communities; and engage, empower and mobilise young people to create local solutions to the world’s biggest challenges,” Becerra said.
Minister of Sports, Culture and Youth Affairs Bongani Nzima described the European Union as a key development partner in advancing youth development in the Kingdom.
“We recognise the European Union as a strategic and trusted partner delivering practical, youth centred solutions that move beyond policy into real community impact,” Nzima said.
Youth Empowerment Fund beneficiaries from Eswatini also addressed the gathering, sharing their experiences of the application process and how they implemented their projects after being selected. The fund is supported by a total of €10 million, which is approximately E180 million.
The European Union works alongside like minded organisations, forming alliances with international youth serving bodies such as the Red Cross, Boy Scouts and Girl Guides, to ensure young people have access to tools that enable them to initiate change and mobilise their peers in support of youth led solutions.
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