BY PHUMELELE GAMEDZE
MBABANE – Big dreams found fertile ground at Lomahasha Central High School on Monday as students were introduced to opportunities that could transform their entrepreneurial ambitions into successful businesses through the Youth Enterprise Revolving Fund (YERF).
For many young people, entrepreneurship remains a dream held back by limited access to funding and business knowledge. Recognising this challenge, the Youth Enterprise Revolving Fund (YERF) visited Lomahasha Central High School on Monday to empower learners with information on how they can access financial and business development support to turn their ideas into thriving enterprises.
The outreach formed part of YERF’s ongoing campaign to engage young people directly in schools and communities, ensuring they are equipped with the knowledge needed to make informed decisions about their future long before they enter the labour market.
During the interactive session, students learned about the Fund’s services, eligibility criteria and application process. They were encouraged to embrace entrepreneurship as a viable career path capable of creating employment opportunities, generating income and contributing to Eswatini’s economic growth.
Beyond explaining how the Fund operates, YERF officials challenged learners to begin identifying problems within their communities that could be solved through innovative business ideas. The message was clear: success begins with vision, preparation and the courage to take the first step.
Established by the Government of Eswatini in 2009 under the Ministry of Sports, Culture and Youth Affairs, the Youth Enterprise Revolving Fund was created to address youth unemployment by providing affordable financing, entrepreneurship training, mentorship and business support services to young people aged 18 to 35. The Fund’s collateral-free loans have enabled hundreds of young entrepreneurs to establish and expand businesses across diverse sectors of the economy.
According to information published by YERF, the organisation has approved more than E27 million in loans, supporting 582 youth owned businesses across Eswatini by March 2026. The Fund continues to position itself as a catalyst for youth led economic empowerment by nurturing sustainable enterprises that create jobs and stimulate local development.
For the learners of Lomahasha Central High School, the visit represented more than an information sharing exercise. It planted seeds of confidence, ambition and possibility, reminding them that with the right guidance and support, today’s classroom ideas could become tomorrow’s successful enterprises.
As the students left the session carrying new knowledge and renewed confidence, they also carried something far more valuable a blueprint for transforming their dreams into opportunities that could shape not only their own futures, but also the future of their communities and the nation.
#YERF #YouthEmpowerment #Entrepreneurship #FutureLeaders
