The chairperson of the Limpopo Youth Commission, Ndumi Vho-Rodgers Tshivhase, expressed his dissatisfaction this week about the lack of dedicated focus on youth programmes by certain government departments and municipalities across the province.

Tshivhase, who also referred to the HI virus, crime and unemployment as the worst challenges to have ever faced the current young generation, also expressed his concern about the poor attendance of young people from minority groups in government events.

He said that while all these are caused by ignorance and lack of relevant information, it remains a challenge to all efforts geared at building a united, non-racial and non-sexist country. According to Tshivhase, all departments and municipalities should have youth officers, who should be allocated the necessary resources to facilitate youth development from their respective offices. He said that the commission also wants the spheres of government to develop youth programmes, so that their services and policies can be relevant to the conditions faced by the youth.

"It is the commission´s view that the Youth Month activities should involve all relevant stakeholders, including young people from the minority population groups. We will be meeting the affected groupings, so that they can be involved in determining government policies and modes of providing services," he said.

As the commission has already noted lack of information as a contributory factor to most of the challenges faced by young people, Tshivhase claimed that they will be embarking on a road show, starting on August 11 at Moutse village. He said that government departments, municipalities and institutions of higher learning will be expected to erect exhibition stalls from which young people will be advised on how they can benefit from the services provided by various institutions.

The Youth Commission chairperson said the information will, amongst other things, include familiarisation with procurement procedures, bursary application opportunities and procedures, access to social grants, access to higher education and youth entrepreneurship. "The commission is convinced that this programme will help young people to know more about themselves and how they can live in harmony with other age groups," he said.