NORTHERN PROVINCE

MUSANZE — The National Youth Council yesterday launched a savings and investment cooperative union in Musanze district, with a call on local authorities to involve all the developmental partners in supporting youth projects.

COOJAD-Cooperative des Jeunes pour la promotion de l auto-emploi et la development, established branches in provincial districts to facilitate youths in acquiring loans to create their own jobs.

During the launching ceremony, the provincial executive secretary, Deo Kabagambe criticised the local authorities for not sensitising the concerned partners to attend the function and not attaching the due value to the proposed youth cooperative.

He called upon youths and elders to buy shares from the cooperative and also fully participate in the activities and administration of the cooperative, for development.

A team from the National Youth Council outlined the frame work, procedures of operation, shares and the role of the cooperative towards poverty eradication among the youths.

They asked the districts in the province to elect COOJAD councils which will over see the buying of shares. The shares cost Frw10,000 for members that would reportedly act as collateral security to acquire loans from the cooperative.

The youth cooperative will also provide technical assistance in terms of writing project proposals for the interested youth groups.

Members present who included private businessmen, NGOs representatives and the local authorities bought shares from the cooperative, as a sign of their commitment towards the cooperative.

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