YES Leader: Mr. Samkeliso Simelane
Email : samkeliso.simelane@snyc.org.sz, samkeliso@yesweb.org,
Website : www.yesweb.org

Vision : To promote and develop the concept of green jobs with particular emphasis on the need to cultivate the culture of entrepreneurship among young people so to reduce unemployment.

Background : Swaziland is considered to be a developing country facing improper utilization of country resources therefore YES Swaziland sees the need to maintain consistency in keeping the issue of water resources at the top of the agenda. We believe that if sustainable systems for water distribution can be improved, it could also address issues such as HIV/AIDS, hunger and poverty.

About the Network : YES Swaziland is a network of young people having excellent qualifications with different expertise. The network has created relations with other stakeholders locally. Our participation is being recognized through development of important documents e.g. youth policy and the youth enterprise fund consultative process. YES Swaziland believes that there is a need to maximize advocacy strategies to advance policy design and coordination to promote partnerships between the private and public sector to ultimately contribute to achieving social and economic growth.

Current Major Initiatives:

• A Mentorship Programm,was initiated by Youth De velopment Network which seeked to increase the productivity of youth-directed enterprises involving private sector personnel who acted as mentors for aspiring young entrepreneurs. T he established entrepreneurs became mentors to assist the aspiring and still-establishing entrepreneurs until they improved professionally and mastered the business principles.
• Research on Training Needs Assessment was set off on water management, which deals with the capacity among youth of Kalanga Global Water Partnerships. The research was commenced to identify training needs for the youth of Kalanga community and to mobilize participants for the Youth Workshop with the following objective: To train 30 young people of Kalanga on advocacy for water sanitation and awareness on hygiene. The expected results include but are not limited to: formation of a youth water committee and a youth action plan for active youth involvement in the Earth Dam Project.
• Policy Advocacy: Water forum: water is a catalyst in promoting youth employment. The event brings together all stakeholders involved in the area of water including the Government and the United Nations to help discuss how water can be available to everyone including young people who want to be involved in agriculture.
• Young entrepreneurs and mentors were taken to Maguga Dam situated in the northern part of Swaziland. About 10 mentors and 10 protégés participated in the activity along with officials from the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture and the Swaziland National Youth Council. YES Country Leader, Samkeliso Simelane called on the Government to cooperate with YES especially regarding the Declaration made in Kenya during the 3rd Youth Employment Summit to allocate resources towards youth employment activities.
• Awareness workshop on the upcoming Youth Enterprise Fund. This event aims at sensitizing young people about opportunities that come with the Enterprise Fund and also on the criteria to be used for selecting young people.
• National Youth Entrepreneurship- Innovation Exhibition. Organizing an exhibition for a diverse display of products by young people where members of the public will be invited to buy.

Key Accomplishments :

• Participating in the Swaziland International Trade Fair. This is week long government activity that has a lot of business and entertainment activities which also draws scores of people. It is also an opportunity to promote YES.
• Lobbying for seats in the SNYC Board. This particular activity aims at ensuring YES representation within SNYC institutions
• Our Partners include :
  1. Swaziland National Youth Council – Host YES
  2. Country Water Partnerships – project support and funding.
  3. Swaziland Youth United Against HIV/AIDS
  4. Swaziland Youth Enterprise Network