Solar training to benefit rural youth

Musoma. More than 100 young people in Musoma Rural Constituency are expected to benefit from solar lamp making training.

The project, which is sponsored by the Embassy of the Republic of Korea, was launched at Nyegina Village on Monday.

Speaking during the launch, the Musoma Rural MP, who is also the Minister for Energy and Minerals, Prof Sospeter Muhongo, said apart from creating employment opportunities in the constituency, the project would also benefit residents by providing them with light.

Prof Muhongo said the youth would be trained in how to make solar lamps by using materials which were available in the area. The training programme, said the minister, would be conducted for three consecutive days in each of the five villages by a trainer from the Republic of Korea.

The minister added that other young people in all districts in the region would be trained as well. The aim of the training, he noted, was to enable the youth to start income generating projects.

Speaking during the ceremony, the Republic of Korea Ambassador to Tanzania, Mr Song Geumyoung, said his government decided to support the project to help reduce the poverty, especially in rural areas.

Mr Geumyoung challenged the youth to utilise the opportunity instead of staying idle in villages.

“Let’s all of us use available opportunities to engage in income generating activities as President John Magufuli has been insisting Hapa Kazi Tu, so let us support him by working until we reach the stage we want to be at,” he explained.

Commenting on that, some residents commended the decision made by their MP, saying the project was of great significance as there were many young people, who remained idle after completing their secondary education.

Mr Mashaka Majura said there was a need for a skills training workshop that would inculcate in the youth social skills and help them to be self-employed instead of waiting for employment opportunities from the government and non-governmental organisations.