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The Joshua Generation International Network (TJGIN) is assisting youths in marginalized communities to access operating capital for the smooth running of their enterprises, thereby solving a myriad of challenges that are bedeviling the African continent.
The organisation that has spread its wings across Africa has assisted youths to be financially independent through empowerment programs and seeks to solve Africa’s scourge of high youth unemployment and drug abuse.
The African economic system denies a bank loan to a bankable proposal which usually happens to a person without security to buffer a loan. Technology has exacerbated the odds against young entrepreneurs as systems each day are being updated to favour a minority of the population and millions of Zimbabweans have either had their ideas stolen or denied a loan, and calls for economic leaders have been echoed that will increase community GDP.
TJGIN has created a platform that will assist youths in Zimbabwe to have access to funding as long as they have committees and companies of up to six people in a bid for them to be accountable for the loans that they would have received.
“We have created a platform that will solve the challenge of loan defaults and since there is a 90 percent loan default rate in Zimbabwe, we are disbursing loans to youths through our partner, Old Mutual, for youths that have committees and registered companies.
“Youths who are running their own businesses can access this loan facility because they already have a running business and what we facilitate as The Joshua Generation International Network is to verify the youths meet the requirements. The committee must be comprised of up to six people for accountability purposes. As an organization, we also work with Econet, and Lafarge who have provided containers for youths to work in the cement business and work with Gtel as well, ” said Mr. Xavier Mzembi, one of the founders and Chairperson of TJGIN.
When he came back to the country, he handed over car washing consumables to youths in Chipinge. as part of TJGIN empowerment initiatives. The organisation also donated an assortment of essentials to Ndiyadzo Primary School which was affected by Cyclone Idai that hit the Chimanimani and Chipinge Districts respectively.
In 2020, Africa’s population under 35 represents almost a billion people (540.8 million 0–14-year old’s and 454.5 million 15–34-year old’s), amounting to 22,7 percent of the world’s total youth population, the second largest after Asia (58,0per cent) and with this background, the future of Africa is in the youths and investing in them seems credible.
Speaking at the same event, Mr.Ashirai Mawere, programs director in the office of Chipinge Member of Parliament, Honourable Raymore Machingura said the youths are not the leaders of tomorrow but they are the leaders of today and must take responsibility for their communities by venturing into lucrative business partnerships.
“The Second Republic has made the doing business environment more friendly and if youths need land they can actually go into partnerships with farmers who already have land. Here in Chipinge, we have farmers who have 200 hectares of land but they are not fully utilizing it so as youths you can get into partnerships with such farmers and you can be assisted through the office of our Member of Parliament, Honorable Machingura and you can get your offer letter and you can start planting your cabbages, bananas, and tomatoes.
“And in terms of fighting climate change we have engaged our Israeli partners who will be assisting our farmers on the integration of smart agricultural techniques to counter the effects of climate change and this project will be starting in October,’’ said Mr. Mawere.