NGOZI, February 27th (ABP) – In an interview with ABP on Thursday 20 February 2025, young people belonging to the Master Welding Company “MAWELCO” cooperative, which manufactures mills, rewinds motorcycles and repairs various electrical machines, in the Kigarama district of the Ngozi commune and province, are delighted with the step they have already taken towards development, after receiving financial support from PAEEJ.
According to Antoine Abayo, one of the young people involved, the cooperative’s activities are largely centred on the manufacture of mills and other electrical machines, motor rewinding, household electrical installation, solar systems and other activities.
Thanks to support from the Economic Autonomisation and Youth Employment Programme (PAEEJ), obtained in July 2024, they have benefited from work tools, namely the parallel lathe, the drilling machine and the milling machine, said Abayo. That has made their work quick and profitable. In percentage terms, their monthly income has risen from 40% to 70% since July 2024,” he said.
The major challenges they face include the power cut, which is likely to slow down production, and the increase in the cost of materials used in the processing of finished products.
Mr Abayo welcomed the PAEEJ youth economic empowerment and employment programme, initiated by the Burundian government, which consists of financing innovative projects with the aim of combating youth unemployment.
He made a vibrant appeal to young graduates not to stand idly by, but rather to learn different trades that could help them create jobs for themselves. He also encouraged young people with innovative projects to work together as a cooperative movement, because there is strength in numbers, he concluded.