07/09/2026
Rehoboth Mayoral Youth Development Fund Launched with N$180 000 in Cash Pledges
The Rehoboth Town Council, through the Office of the Mayor, officially launched the Rehoboth Mayoral Youth Development Fund during a gala dinner held at Amazing Waters in Rehoboth, marking a significant milestone in the Council’s efforts to create meaningful opportunities for young people.
The launch attracted government leaders, regional and local authority representatives, private-sector partners, development stakeholders and community leaders, all united around a common objective: to empower Rehoboth’s youth through skills development, entrepreneurship and economic participation.
The Fund received N$180 000 in cash pledges from various partners and supporters on the evening. In addition, International Training College of Lingua pledged N$63 000 in training support, which will provide funding for three students to pursue any accredited course of their choice.
Further support came from Loxton Butchery, which pledged training opportunities for 10 emerging piggery farmers, together with a start-up package of three pigs upon completion of the training, providing a practical pathway from skills development to enterprise creation.
A major development announced at the gala dinner was the commitment by the Social Security Commission to become the founding partner of the Mayoral Youth Development Fund. Social Security Commission has pledged to support the project for a period of more than three years.
The partnership will also place strong emphasis on accountability, fairness and transparency, including the establishment of a transparent beneficiary selection process to ensure that the Fund reaches young people who genuinely require and can effectively utilise the opportunities provided.
Mayor of Rehoboth, Hon. Jacky Jackson ≠Khariseb, expressed appreciation to all partners who have already committed their support.
“We thank the already pledged and committed support and continue to work on strategies from the Office of the Mayor and beyond to ensure that our young people are capacitated and empowered,” said Mayor ≠Khariseb.
"Moreover, we must also think beyond today. We are preparing our young people for the economy that is coming. We are preparing them for opportunities linked to green hydrogen, the emerging oil, gas and petroleum sectors and other emerging industries. We cannot wait until the opportunity arrives before we begin preparing our children, we must prepare before the envisioned opportunity appears," the Mayor stated.
The Patron of the Fund, Deputy Minister of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sports, Arts and Culture, Hon. Dino Balloti, described the initiative as courageous and important, particularly within the context of local government.
“It took courage to embark on this journey, for which this night came to fruition. It is no easy feat for a local authority to look beyond the immediate demands of service delivery and infrastructure and to instead ask the question: what are we doing to secure our town’s next generation of entrepreneurs, professionals and leaders?” Hon. Balloti stated.
He emphasised that youth development requires collaboration between government, local authorities, the private sector and young people themselves.
“Government cannot legislate opportunity into existence. A local authority, however committed, cannot fund every idea. The private sector cannot mentor every young entrepreneur, and young people, however determined, cannot build sustainable futures without the ecosystem of support that surrounds it.”
Hon. Balloti further commended the private-sector partners, with special recognition to Social Security Commission, noting that investment in youth development should be viewed as an investment in Namibia’s economic future.
“Your investment in this Fund is not charity. It is one of the wisest economic decisions that you will make. A thriving, skilled and economically active youth population is the surest foundation for a prosperous Namibia.”
As Patron, Hon. Balloti pledged his continued support for the initiative, stating that he would use every platform and influence available to ensure that Rehoboth’s youth remain central to conversations around development, employment and economic participation.
The gala dinner was attended by, among others, Deputy Minister of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security Hon. Eduard Wambo; Governor of the Hardap Region Hon. Riaan McNab; Chairperson of the Hardap Regional Council Hon. Simon Gerhardus Kooper, as well as regional and local authority councillors from across Namibia.
The launch of the Rehoboth Mayoral Youth Development Fund represents the beginning of a broader partnership-driven approach to youth empowerment. The Office of the Mayor will continue engaging potential partners and developing mechanisms to ensure that the Fund delivers sustainable, measurable and inclusive opportunities for the youth of Rehoboth.
The message from the gala dinner was clear: investing in young people today is investing in the future of Rehoboth.
