BY GCWALISILE MHLABANE
MANKAYANE– For many young people living in rural communities, the journey from school or unemployment to a meaningful career can be complicated by limited access to information, training and professional networks.
A career expo planned for Mankayane aims to change that by bringing opportunities closer to young people and helping them move from uncertainty to action.
The expo, which will bring together youth from Ngwempisi, Pondo and Mahlangatja constituencies, is scheduled for August 5, 2026, at the Mankayane Sports Ground.
Ngwempisi Inkhundla Youth Chairperson Ellis Dlamini said the initiative was not simply another event on the calendar, but a platform designed to ensure that rural youth were actively connected to opportunities, skills and pathways into the world of work.
“The career expo is not just an event; it is about ensuring that young people do not remain on the margins of the economy, but are actively connected to opportunities, skills and pathways in the world of work,” Dlamini said.
He was speaking during a joint sitting with Executive members of the Tinkhundla Youth Committees (TYCs) from constituencies around Mankayane at the Ngwempisi Inkhundla Boardroom on July 29, 2026.
The meeting was held under the theme “Strengthening Accountability, Transparency and Ethical Leadership” and focused on preparations for the career expo, as well as strategies to mobilise young people to attend.
Dlamini said the initiative was intended to connect ambition with opportunity by narrowing the gap between students, job seekers, employers and institutions offering education and skills development.
He said the expo could help young people turn uncertain futures into clear and achievable goals by giving them access to information and networks that were often difficult to find in rural areas.
“This initiative will play a crucial role in bridging the rural-urban divide, which remains one of the country’s biggest challenges,” he said.
Dlamini stressed that rural youth should not be viewed merely as beneficiaries of economic development, but as active contributors capable of driving growth in their communities.
“As rural youth, we can play a vital role as catalysts of economic growth if we have access to decent work. Our energy, creativity and willingness to take risks can drive economic growth and transform communities,” he said.
A strong advocate for rural entrepreneurship, Dlamini said the difference between potential and progress often came down to access.
He explained that young entrepreneurs needed appropriate support, resources and guidance to transform promising ideas into viable businesses capable of creating jobs and sustaining livelihoods.
He said the career expo would provide opportunities for young people to access educational programmes, mentorship, financial resources and practical training to help them navigate challenges in the employment and business environment.
Dlamini also highlighted the role of rural entrepreneurship in tackling persistent challenges such as unemployment and poverty.
He said rural innovators could contribute significantly to local economic development by creating businesses and employment opportunities in sectors including agriculture, handicrafts, tourism and renewable energy.
Beyond employment and entrepreneurship, Dlamini said the expo would help address the growing gap between rural and urban youth by bringing services and opportunities closer to communities.
He appealed to local TYC leaders to intensify mobilisation efforts and encourage more young people from the Mankayane area to participate.
Dlamini said attending national and regional career expos across Eswatini’s Tinkhundla centres could give out-of-school youth direct access to accredited Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) opportunities, tailored business start-up funding and labour market networking.
He said young people could also benefit from professional self-assessment tools designed to help them identify their strengths and transition from job seekers into sustainable job creators.
He further noted that the Tinkhundla Local Government Bill and the Eswatini National Youth Development Coordination Framework (NYDCF) reinforce the role of TYC structures as a bridge for decentralising national youth programmes and ensuring that rural communities are not left behind.
Dlamini said the career expo would also promote personal and professional growth through aptitude assessments, employability skills development and mindset transformation.
He urged young people to seize the opportunity, saying access to the right information, skills, mentorship and networks could turn untapped potential into meaningful careers, thriving enterprises and stronger rural communities.
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(Courtesy Pic)
