Ondjiva – A total of 262 youths from the districts of Namakunde, Kwanhama, Ombadja and Cahama, of southern Cunene province, benefited from the "Angola Youth" micro-credit programme, during the year 2009.

According to the head of the department of youths of the Provincial Youth and Sports Division, Atânacio Ndiliandike, the beneficiaries are grouped in 52 co-operatives linked to the rendering of services, trade and industry, as well as culture and management of small businesses.

Atânacio Ndiliandike stated that 27 million kwanzas (Angolan currency) was made available by Savings and Credit Bank (BPC), to be divided in three phases.

The “Youth Credit" project, launched in April 2007 by the Ministry of Youth and Sports, aims at improving the socio-economic situation of disadvantaged youths and help to combat poverty, and involves an amount estimated at USD 5 million from the BPC bank.