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Nqobile Tshili Business Correspondent
A GROUP of 25 unemployed youths from Matabeleland region have benefited from an empowerment programme after a local company gave them a consignment of solar products to sell on commission.

Gewwitt Energy, a solar products trading firm based in Bulawayo, has provided youths from Gwanda, Mawabeni, Tsholotsho, and Cowdray Park suburb among other areas with solar products such as panels and bulbs for sale.

Gewwitt Energy’s managing director Andrew Chikomba yesterday said his organisation received $25,000 from the donor community, which was channelled to this project.

He said his company has been assisting youths throughout the country after realising that most of them were struggling to make ends meet. Chikomba said youths should take advantage of power outages to empower themselves through selling alternative energy products.

“They are the ones who know the problems affecting their communities. We want to empower the youths because we’ve realised that most of them are not employed. As we’re an interested party in the energy sector we thought of distributing solar products to them as a way of empowering them. We want the youths to start their business through retail projects,” he said.

Chikomba said after selling their solar products involved youths were given a certain percentage of profits as payment.

“We’re not just providing with solar products but we’re teaching them entrepreneurship and life skills to make them run self-sustaining businesses,” he said.

One of the beneficiaries, Shyleen Goma from Cowdray Park suburb said the workshop she attended recently that was organised by Gewwitt was enlightening as she was taught innovative ways that can assist her in business.

Chikomba expressed hope that the project would help reduce unemployment countrywide and empower the youth.