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Remarks by Mandela Kapere Secretary General of the National Youth Council of Namibia, at the occasion of the ascension of the NYC of to the Basic Income Grant Coalition Allow me to thank first and foremost the Eminent Bishop Kameeta and heads of the various organizations in the BIG family to which the NYC of Namibia is now proud to be affiliated to. The decision by the National Youth Council to accede to the concept of a universal income grant is a long overdue process and need not be considered a surprise considering the NYC?s record as a social and human justice movement fundamentally over and above its youth representative role. Allow me to share with you the rational that informed the decision of the council in his regard. For us, there is no greater opportunity than now, in this climate of failed predatory capitalism for the international social justice movement to demand a stronger role from the states to alleviate misery, illiteracy and poverty of the people of the world. State lead social and economic development must not retreat but should be reinforced now more than ever. Internationally, we have seen an increased predisposition to poverty for those who already find themselves in conditions of poverty. Namibia is no exception to this trend, infact in Namibia this trend seems aggravated considering Namibia notorious position as a country a top of the Gini coefficient measure worldwide. Apart from proving that we have the highest income disparity in the world, this also means that Namibians have a duty to work hardest and be at the forefront of poverty reduction innovation measures worldwide. 19 years after independence there are still people who have benefited little from national development, during this period, while much has been done by Namibians and their government to alleviate poverty, it is clear that much more must be done to guarantee equal opportunities and social advancement for all. Young People have stake in this process, not only as its principal drivers, but also as those on whom poverty has most impact. It is for the young that poverty reduction strategies are most meaningful. Basic income grant and the other means we seek to employ to reduce poverty can only be sustainable if they have meaningful impact in the lives of youths and children. It is youth in rural and impoverished areas, who continue to be condemned to cycle of poverty, illiteracy, crime and despair. We thank God, that our economy has been able to lift a significant number out of this misery, perhaps this is due to innovative measures such as the Namibia Student Financial Assistance Scheme, a school system with emphasis on hostelling, Decentralization of essential government services and other means. Reality, unfortunately still reflects, that while young people under the age of 35 constitute some 70 + percent of the pollution, they still constitute 60 percent of the unemployed and a significant portion of the socially marginalized. It is for these reason that NYC wishes to elevate its support from silent affirmation to active participation. By taking this measure today, NYC is saying to the nation and to the world, that BIG can work and shall have impact in Namibia and we as young people are ready to work hard and in partnership with the BIG family, to see to it that government has no choice but to come to the same realization. The people of the Otjivero, in the Omitara settlement are testimony of the above, a number of chronic social problems have shown significant rates of improvement. For example Income activity has improved, school development fund default rates have gone down, malnutrition is not as serious at it was, this is important in view of the importance of nutrition on the effectiveness of ARV?s, and lastly crime has been significantly deterred due to the improved circumstances of the people. There is no doubt in my mind that these results could be extrapolated nationally with the same impact as they have had in Omitara. Fundamentally big is a huge step towards restoring the broken dignity of the Namibian people , caused by some 120 years of colonialism and exploitation, further the basic income grant is a Namibian made solution to deal with an Namibian challenge, it is suited to Namibian conditions and responds very well to the Namibian dimension of poverty. It is not a means unto itself but one measure with the proven potential to alleviate many of the chronic problems that comes with poverty. BIG is about rural empowerment, youth empowerment and youth empowerment. There it must be supported by all I Thank You.