A young female mechanic working on the engine of a bus. The relaunch of the FIJ National Commitee will encourage the youth to be more business-minded

The FIJ National Commitee being relaunched

Private companies, parasatals and public bodies joined hands last week for the relaunch of an initiative aimed at increasing youth employment.

Representatives of 13 different organisations met at the SECTI building, Roche Caiman, for the inaugural sitting of the new National Committee of the Fonds d'Insertion des Jeunes (FIJ).

Overseen by the Youth Department of the Ministry of Education and Youth, FIJ is a youth entrepreneur programme, funded by the Conference des Ministres de Jeunesse et des Sports (CONFEJES).

Launched in Paris in 1966 by the Francophonie Agency, CONFEJES is mandated to, "Promote sustainable development, participation and youth involvement in society."

The FIJ project originally began in Seychelles in 1995 and recorded a number of successes, but was discontinued when changes were made to the structure of the Youth Department in the late 1990's.

Speaking at the National Committee meeting, Youth Department Director of International Cooperation and Research, Noussira Daman explained that the committee would provide the expertise needed to back up the CONFEJES financing.

Ms Daman said that the committee was established in order to, "input their expertise to the service of young people and to act as an advisory committee, to guide and mentor young entrepreneurs and, when they set up their business, to guide them through the steps and help them avoid the pitfalls."

Ms Daman said that an action plan for 2004-2005 had been established and that the first publicity campaign would run from May to June, through which young people would be invited to come forward with their business ideas, to register their names and later participate in training and selection meetings.

Outlining the role the National Committee would play, Ms Daman said that, "If, for example, (the young entrepreneurs) have a problem with accounting we have people on the committee who are experts at this so they can come and be guided by the relevant committee member."

To be eligible for FIJ funds applicants must be unemployed, aged between 15 and 35 and have a viable idea for a business venture, which will be assessed by the committee.

While funding for individual projects ranges from R10,000 to R50,000, Ms Daman said that there is no limit to the number of projects which the committee can submit for consideration to the regional head quarters in Dakar, Senegal.

The next meeting of the National Committee will take place today and Ms Daman said that anybody interested in finding out more about the FIJ programme could contact her at the Youth Department on 22 62 52, extension 104.

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