OVER 200 youths attended a one-day motivational workshop organised by the Khomas Youth League and the Kavango under-17 League at Rundu last Saturday.

The Ministry of Information and Communication Technology sponsored the workshop.

Players representing the 18 under-17 teams in the region, and two local women's football teams from the Rundu College of Education and Sunshine Ladies FC, attended the workshop.

The purpose of the workshop was to discuss challenges facing the youths in terms of addressing and combating social vices like HIV-AIDS, drug abuse and irresponsible living.

For many of the boys and girls it was the first time they had been addressed on issues of HIV-AIDS, alcohol and drug abuse and moral behaviour.

They requested that more such workshops and talks be presented, according to workshop facilitator, Isack Hamata.

He said some of the main concerns raised were that there are no recreational facilities in Rundu or surrounding areas, forcing youngsters to alcohol which leads to risky behaviour such as unprotected sex.

Hamata said a shocking revelation was that, because of the lack of recreational facilities, some of the boys were having relationships with older women in exchange for money and other material goods.

"These relationships with elderly women potentially exposed the boys to risks of infections to Sexually Transmitted Infections, including HIV-AIDS," he said.

He said some of the recommendations were that the Town Council and the Regional Authority establish proper and adequate recreational facilities, parents and elders should find the time to educate themselves on the dangers of unprotected sex and alcohol abuse in society.

The business community should take an active role in growing and developing the youth football league to get more children off the streets and out of bars and pubs.