Youth in Otjiwarongo refuse to lie idle, waiting for job opportunities to be created, and have ventured into selling firewood.
Most residents in Otjiwarongo’s informal settlement depend on firewood for cooking and other energy needs, hence the reason to start a firewood business.
Firewood business owner Hamugandjo Shitumba says, “On good days, I would make at least N$1,000 or more. I do have challenges with the car that keeps breaking down when I go get firewood, but I am making money.”
Shitumba has about 11 employees who assist with collecting the wood while the women do the packing of firewood into bundles.
Another man in the firewood selling business is Marli Paul, who says they are making a profit even though not all days are the same in business.
“I came from Rundu, and I joined the wood-selling business in December, and it is going well so far. Customers come almost daily. On some days, we get three, and on others, we might get even ten. We are happy here.”
With the firewood business booming as customers come one after the other, these youth are fighting unemployment and hoping to serve as a motivation to others to venture into other types of businesses.
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