Over 250 unemployed youths from the Erongo, Hardap, Omaheke, and Zambezi regions have applied for the 2025 edition of the MTC 4Life Project, which offers specialised business training and seed capital to support small and medium enterprises (SMEs).
The MTC 4Life Project, launched in 2023, is a youth empowerment initiative aimed at tackling unemployment by equipping young Namibians with business and practical skills.
So far, 91 youth have been trained through the programme, with a total investment of N$3.5 million over the past two years.
For this year’s round, MTC has allocated N$1.5 million from its Corporate Social Investment (CSI) budget to support at least 40 selected youth from the four participating regions.
Participants respond to a public call for applications.
Shortlisted candidates are interviewed and selected by a panel of experts before being relocated to Windhoek for a one-week classroom training session.
This is followed by hands-on practical training under the supervision of contracted SME trainers.
MTC Corporate Communications Specialist Erasmus Nekundi said the programme is designed to support young people with business ideas who lack capital and guidance.
“MTC 4Life program offers hope to the young man or woman who is sitting at home with a dream to become an entrepreneur but does not know how and where to start and with no capital to do so,” Nekundi said.
This year’s training will cover eight trades: animation, carpentry, hairstyling, electrical and solar installation, upholstery and welding, barbering, and brick manufacturing.
Nekundi confirmed that 256 valid applications were received from the four regions.
“We take four regions at a time to maintain program implementation efficacy and effectiveness. Next year, we will look at other regions which we are yet to cover,” he said.
MTC continues to partner with reputable SMEs to deliver the training. Each session lasts between five and 15 days.
At the end of the training, each participant will receive a toolkit and N$5,000 in capital to help start or grow their businesses.
“The constant interest shown each year by the youth in the project, and the success stories of previous project beneficiaries merged with our goodwill for positive socio-economic impact are crucial factors that anchor the continuation of this programme,” Nekundi added. – MTC
