Windhoek — In its effort to complement Government's programmes aimed at reducing the high rate of unemployment in the country, Women's Action for Development (WAD) recently trained 143 young people in the Karas Region.

Over hundred young people graduated in different fields, among them office administration and typing, computer literacy, civic education, basic and advanced tailoring and nutrition and personal hygiene.

The new graduates bring the number of young people trained at the WAD Karas Training Centre in Keetmanshoop, sponsored by Namdeb Diamond Corporation, to 330.

WAD Executive Director Veronica de Klerk urged the graduates to use their knowledge acquired to uplift their standards of living.

Training offered by the organisation for free improves the chances of young people to land a job or start their own business.

"A certificate alone will not put bread on your table. The important point to consider is to what extent you will be prepared to utilise the knowledge and skills which you have gained during your training with the necessary dedication and commitment," she said.

The WAD executive director expressed concern over the abuse of alcohol, especially among women in that part of the country.

Alcohol abuse, as publicly known, has contributed to poverty and high levels of crimes such as stabbings and rape.

She believes that her organisation has a special calling to this region that is endowed with a lot of natural resources that can bring about economic prosperity. Instead, high levels of unemployment, po-verty, alcohol abuse and domestic violence haunt the region.

De Klerk discouraged women from engaging in gambling activities, adding that some mothers use the money meant for the maintenance of their children to gamble.

"With the legalization of gambling in certain entertainment facilities, women have simply taken over," she said.

She urged women not to squander away the little they have while the owners of such facilities run after riches that will continuously evade the gambler.

Konrad-Adenaeur-Stiftung and the Spanish-Nepad Fund sponsored the training.