The Search for Common Ground (SFCG) organization has provided funds to 17 youth groups from nine districts to run businesses and motivate them to be good and successful businessmen in the future.
SFCG country director Jose Francisco de Sousa, said the objective of the small grants program was to provide opportunities for youth groups to carry out their activities in keeping with their needs in the district.
“We try to give the youths chances to learn how to run a good business,” Director Sousa said at the launch of the “Buffalo-Horn Radio Drama for Peace” program at UNDIL Hall, Dili.
The 17 youth groups came from nine districts; Dili, Baucau, Ermera, Liquica, Oe-Cusse, Bobonaro, Manatuto, Suai and Manufahi.
In the first stage, he said each group will receive $2,000. The second stage will open funding opportunities to groups from other districts.
He said the SFCG cooperated with the Businessmen Development Support Institution (IADE) to build the capacity of youth groups so they were able to gain knowledge and identify the type of business best suited to them.
The trading activities the 17 groups developed included cooperatives involved in keeping pigs, local food production, tailoring, union credit organisations, selling coffee, computer courses, bamboo souvenir production, mangrove tree nurseries, rentals, photography, art, theater, traditional music and garment weaving.
National Council of Timor-Leste Youth president Leovegildo da Costa Hornai said this program was very positive as it promoted the participation of youth groups in development through business activities.
Hornai asked the youth groups which received funds to stay committed and to use the small amount of money responsibly so it could benefit their families and other youths.
“Despite the fact the grants are only small, they can get big results and will benefit other youths including the communities if they are executed wisely and honestly,” he said.
