BY LINDELWA MYENI
MBABANE – Young people in Eswatini can turn green innovation into businesses and employment opportunities while helping address environmental challenges, Likusasa Letfu founder Yael Uzan Tidhar said today on the Kusile Breakfast Show.
Tidhar said the green economy is creating opportunities for young entrepreneurs to develop solutions to challenges such as climate change, pressure on natural resources and unemployment.
She identified agriculture, waste management, water, renewable energy and environmental conservation as areas where young people can develop innovative solutions while creating businesses and livelihoods.
She said the green economy, together with digitalisation and artificial intelligence, gives young people an opportunity to participate in emerging industries and create new economic opportunities.
“The market doesn’t need to be Eswatini only,” Tidhar said, encouraging young entrepreneurs to think beyond Eswatini when developing their businesses.
BUSINESSES CAN CREATE MORE LIVELIHOODS
Tidhar said green innovation could create opportunities beyond individual entrepreneurs, as businesses can generate employment, subcontracting opportunities and other sources of income.
She acknowledged that not every business idea would become highly profitable, but said increasing the number of young people trying innovative ideas could create more opportunities across the economy.
“The more people try, the more people try and fail for themselves, the more they will get,” she said.
202 APPLY FOR GREEN ACCELERATOR
Tidhar said the Green Innovators Accelerator received 202 applications before the deadline, with 20 applicants expected to be selected.
Of these, 10 will become finalists, while three will eventually pitch their ideas.
She said the programme is looking for solutions that demonstrate genuine innovation and can potentially compete beyond Eswatini.
“We’re really looking for that thing,” she said, referring to ideas that offer something different rather than simply replicating existing solutions.
SUPPORT CONTINUES BEYOND PITCHING
Tidhar said the 10 finalists will receive support beyond the pitching stage through mentoring, networking and exposure to financing opportunities.
She said this approach is intended to help young innovators strengthen their ideas and move towards viable enterprises instead of ending the support once the competition is over.
“This is all little links in the whole ecosystem that’s supposed to help a young person with the idea,” she said.
YOUTH NEED 21ST-CENTURY SKILLS
Tidhar also highlighted the importance of equipping young people with communication, critical thinking, teamwork, technology and design-thinking skills.
She said communication is particularly important because young people need to confidently present their ideas and engage potential employers, partners and investors.
“People need to talk,” she said, stressing the importance of young people being able to communicate their ideas and participate confidently in opportunities.
Tidhar also encouraged young people to understand and use emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence.
She said technology allows young people in Eswatini to develop solutions for wider markets, provided they have access to the necessary skills and internet connectivity.
INCLUSION IN THE GREEN ECONOMY
Tidhar called for innovation opportunities to reach young people across the country, including those in rural areas and people living with disabilities.
She said inclusive development can help ensure that more young people have access to skills, networks and opportunities to participate in the changing economy.
Likusasa Letfu has been involved in youth development since 2015 and opened its first career centre in Eswatini in 2022, providing career support to people both inside and outside formal institutions.
PACHIPANDA SUPPORTS GREEN INNOVATION
Tidhar also highlighted the PachiPanda Challenge, a continental green innovation initiative supported by MTN and WWF, which encourages young people to develop innovative solutions to environmental and sustainability challenges.
She said initiatives such as these can help create links between ideas, skills, finance and markets, enabling young people to turn innovative solutions into sustainable livelihoods.
Tidhar said strengthening the green innovation ecosystem could allow young people to contribute to addressing environmental challenges while creating businesses, employment and new sources of income.
#GreenInnovation #YouthEmployment #GreenEconomy #YouthEntrepreneurship #Eswatini #LikusasaLetfu #PachiPanda
