Renthia Kaimbi
Nash Serenity Foundation has partnered with a local driving school to help tackle youth unemployment by offering 20 regular soup kitchen attendees a fully funded opportunity to obtain their learner’s licences.
The Mondesa Youth Licence Empowerment Programme will launch its first intake next weekend. The foundation is also calling on the community to support the initiative.
Founder Patrick Nashandi said the idea followed research showing major challenges faced by young people trying to obtain licences.
“A survey showed that 90% of youth fail their learner’s licence more than four times, and most never reach the driver’s licence stage. Many study but don’t fully understand what they’ve learnt,” Nashandi said.
He said the lack of a licence often shuts young people out of job opportunities that require driving skills.
The programme is run in partnership with Hilaria’s Driving Academy, led by Hilaria Ndiweni Erastus, who is volunteering her services.
“With proper training and mentorship, these young people will receive a real chance to succeed,” Nashandi said.
The training will go beyond traffic rules and test preparation.
“I will use this opportunity to educate them about substance abuse, life skills, and making positive choices, helping them build both skills and character for a brighter future,” he said.
The foundation is seeking sponsors to help cover learners’ licence test fees and printed study materials.
“So far [we have] none, only 1 pledge to cover a part of the costs. The training will proceed with or without any sponsorship. I believe in action, and God will provide the rest,” Nashandi said.
He said the long-term goal is to expand the programme beyond the first group of 20 beneficiaries. A second intake is planned for February, with the aim of reaching more than 1,000 unemployed and underprivileged youth over time.
Nashandi also said the programme needs a dedicated vehicle for practical driving lessons.
“If any company, organisation, government entity, business, or individual would like to sponsor a car… it would be used exclusively for this initiative ‘till kingdom come’,” he said.
Every Tuesday and Friday, the Nash Serenity Foundation feeds between 200 and 400 people at a soup kitchen in Mondesa, Swakopmund.
