E600K FOR TINKHUNDLA TALENT SEARCH

MBABANE - Eswatini has embarked on a groundbreaking endeavour with the launch of the Tinkhundla National Talent Search Competition.

This significant initiative is aimed at empowering the country’s youth and harnessing their talents in sports, arts and culture. The launch of the competition, was held on Friday by the Minister of Sports, Culture and Youth Affairs. Minister Bongani Nzima highlighted that this was a response by his ministry to the submissions, which were made during Sibaya last year.
“During Sibaya last year, the call from emaSwati was simple and straightforward- ‘let government come to the people.’  In saying that, emaSwati didn’t mean just the presence of government officials in their vicinity, but opportunities and resources to better their lives. Our people were asking for well-thought out, people-centred initiatives that would respond to their needs. As a ministry responsible for sports, arts and youth affairs, this first-of-its-kind national competition is one of our responses,” said Nzima.

Opportunity

The competition, which is set to unfold across the 59 Tinkhundla of Eswatini, seeks to identify and nurture untapped talent, providing young individuals with the opportunity to pursue sustainable careers and livelihoods in these sectors. The ministry responsible for sports, arts and youth has spearheaded this pioneering initiative as a response to the call from the emaSwati during Sibaya last year, where the plea for government to bring opportunities and resources directly to the people was made clear. Recognising the wealth of talent that exists across Eswatini, the National Talent Search Competition aims to decentralise talent identification programmes and ensure that no talent slips through the cracks.

The competition is open to emaSwati below the age of 35, with a tighter cut-off of 20 years for the sporting sector, emphasising the importance of early talent identification and investment. The competition will encompass categories in sports, arts and culture including football, athletics, dance, drama, Choral, poetry, comedy, lutsango, sibhaca, ingadla and emajaha, providing a platform for individuals and teams to showcase their skills and passion. In a demonstration of commitment to the nation’s youth, government has allocated a total sponsorship package of E2 million for the competition, with E1.4 million dedicated to sports and E600 000 to arts and culture. Encouraging widespread support for the initiative, community leaders, parents and young people have been urged to actively participate and uphold the values of peace and respect throughout the competition.

Corruption

Furthermore, the competition is envisioned to not only unearth talent, but also promote the message of healthy living through sport and physical activity, while fostering community cohesion and equitable access to sports for all emaSwati. As the competition unfolds, efforts to curtail corruption and violence have been emphasised, with a call for collaboration from private sector partners to join in the mission to uplift the lives of young people. In the United Kingdom, the government has allocated significant funding to support youth talent in sports and arts through various programs and initiatives.

One notable initiative is the ‘Sport England’ programme, which focuses on investing in grassroots sports and nurturing young talent across the country. This programme has received substantial sponsorship, with an allocation of over £300 million (E7 075 350 208.59) to support sports development and talent identification among the youth. Additionally, the UK Arts Council has dedicated funding of over £160 million to promote and develop young artistic talent, providing opportunities for aspiring artists to pursue sustainable careers in the arts and cultural sectors.

Aim

This demonstrates the commitment of the UK Government to empower and support young individuals in sports and arts mirroring the objectives of the Tinkhundla National Talent Search Competition in Eswatini. Both initiatives aim to identify and nurture untapped talent, providing opportunities for the youth to pursue sustainable careers and livelihoods in sports, arts and culture. The allocation of substantial sponsorship by the UK Government underscores the importance placed on investing in youth talent in sports and arts, reflecting a global recognition of the value of empowering the next generation in these sectors.

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