The Civil Society for Poverty Reduction (CSPR) has commended the Zambia National Service (ZNS) for resuming the training programme that involves the empowering of street kids with life support skills.
CSPR National Director Patrick Nshindano said youth unemployment is one of the biggest problem Zambia is facing hence the initiative by ZNS is commendable and should be supported by all well meaning Zambians.
He called on ZNS to ensure that the empowerment programme is done on a permanent basis and in a sustainable manner.
“This of course requires a lot of support on the part of the treasury to ensure that the ZNS has sufficient resources to be able to bring street kids out of the streets and other youths that may be interested in skills development,” Mr. Nshindano said.
He said it is important to identify necessary skills that need to be given to the youths that can be beneficial to their growth and that of the country’s economy.
He said it is not enough to give youths training and skills that are not required on the market.
Mr. Nshindano has since advised ZNS not to just end at training the street kids but also provide them with capital that can help them put their skills to practice and become productive entities in society.
He said ZNS should work closely with the government and other stakeholders to provide the necessary capital.
“ZNS will not keep these kids for a long time, after the training they need to release them out to the society so it has to take that sustainable model for the empowerment to be effective,” he added.
Mr. Nshindano was reacting to a statement made by ZNS Commandant Lieutenant Brigadier General Nathan Mulenga on march 18, 2018 where he revealed that the national service would resume the empowerment programme of street kids with life support skills.