Mariental: The Mariental Youth Resource Centre is operational but unable to function at full capacity due to staff shortages and inadequate infrastructure, its head, Ivan Pieters, has acknowledged. Pieters told Nampa in an interview that the centre is supposed to have one senior youth officer and six youth officers, but currently operates with only one senior youth officer and one youth officer. "This has resulted in an overload of work on the available officers," he said.

According to Namibia Press Agency, Pieters noted that the last time the centre had four youth officers was in 2017, adding that staff attrition over the years has affected programme implementation and outreach. Pieters further admitted that the current office facility, a converted house, is not youth-friendly and limits the centre's ability to deliver services effectively. He explained that the centre relocated from its former premises in 2015 after the building developed cracks and was declared a safety hazard.

Despite these challenges, Pieters said a five-year strategic plan guides operations, with plans underway to construct a fully-fledged multipurpose youth resource centre. He said there is a budget allocation under capital projects for the current financial year, and that a feasibility study and architectural designs by engineers are underway as part of efforts to improve infrastructure. The Public Service Commission has frozen the positions after they were not filled within three months of becoming vacant. Pieters expressed hope that the post will be reinstated and filled once the new centre is operational.

Among ongoing programmes, Pieters highlighted the establishment of a youth agricultural cooperative aimed at promoting self-employment. He said the centre is also training young people in entrepreneurial skills and providing start-up capital under the National Youth Council of Namibia's National Youth Credit Scheme. Recently, 30 beneficiaries were trained at the Kaiganaxab Youth Training Centre under the scheme, he added.

"Some programmes had stagnated in previous years due to capacity constraints but were revived in 2024. It includes the Environmental Education initiative," Pieters said. The centre is also compiling a database of youth participating in its programmes to measure impact, including how many are redirected from social ills. "Monitoring and evaluation mechanisms are in place to track progress and success stories."

Youth engagement is encouraged through a suggestion box, a Facebook page and a functional Namibia Youth Council office at the centre. Pieters added that the centre through the Directorate of Education, continues to advocate against substance abuse through workshops, social media campaigns and radio talk shows.