By Matsobane Manaka and Maphuti Machabaphala
Young people in parliament influence policies to include them.
The Limpopo Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (LDARD) formed part in the form of exhibitions during Youth in Parliament 2025 at Limpopo Legislature, Lebowakgomo.
Youth in Parliament initiative underscores the government’s continued commitment to empowering young people and building a sustainable, inclusive society where they can thrive, lead, and contribute meaningfully to economic growth.
Their participation was centred around the four-pillar framework aimed at tackling youth challenges, as outlined during the launch of youth month as follows:
The four-pillar framework aimed at tackling youth challenges:
- Skills development and capacity building – workshops preparing youth for tomorrow underway focusing on digital skills, youth entrepreneurship, coding, robotic, artisan training and agri-tech.
- Entrepreneurial support – channelling funds through NYDA, Limpopo Youth Fund to fund youth-related enterprises,
- Health and wellness – addressing substance abuse among young people, mental health and teenage pregnancies,
- Dialogue and participation – encourage young people to actively participate in
programmes that help shape the policies.
Agriculture, as the backbone of the Limpopo’s economy, remains the priority in addressing some of the key challenges of high rate of youth unemployment. The exhibition stalls, which reinforced by the engagement between staff members and young people, exchanged wide range of information on various departmental programs. Those ranges from Comprehensive Agricultural Support Program, Letšema, scarce skills and capacity building programs.
