Interview: Empowering Youth Through Mental Health and Entrepreneurship in Otavi

National Mental Health Care, led by founder Cathy Kambanda, has successfully completed a year-long program aimed at combating depression and suicide among young people by empowering them to become entrepreneurs. The initiative, which ran from July 2024 to June 2025 in Otavi, was funded by B2Gold, Ohorongo Cement, and Kambanda’s personal contribution.

Fifteen youth participants were selected, including young entrepreneurs looking to scale their businesses, those with business ideas but no clear direction, and unemployed youth without any plans. “We began with mental health coaching to help participants discover themselves and overcome challenges,” Kambanda explained. “Once they gained clarity, we trained them in the seven pillars of business development, including marketing, finance, and operations.”

The program’s highlight was a launch event on April 22, followed by a graduation and awards ceremony on July 15, where each participant received N$7,750 in startup capital from B2Gold. Several graduates are now running their own businesses, with one participant sharing how the program helped him stop drinking and find purpose.

Kambanda said the initiative’s success proves the importance of addressing mental health while fostering self-reliance. “It’s one thing to look for a job and not find one, but it’s another to become your own boss,” she noted. Plans are already underway to expand the program to other towns in the country.