a.
Youth Development Fund: an economic empowerment programme that
provides technical and financial assistance in the form of grants loans and capacity
building. Since inception, Two Thousand Eight Hundred and Seventy-Five (2,875)
applications have been approved, Two Thousand Two Hundred and Seventy-Six
(2,276) funded and Three Thousand Six Hundred and Four (3,604) employment
created.
b.
Youth Empowerment Scheme: a life skills development programme aimed at
curbing unacceptable social behaviours by youth associated with conditions such as
unemployment, poverty, idleness, excessive consumption of alcohol, crime,
dysfunctional families, HIV/AIDS and other health related issues. Approximately
One Thousand (1000) have attended the initial two boot camps.
c.
Constituency Sport Tournament: This is a talent identification and sport
development programme where various sporting codes competitions such as
football, netball and volleyball were introduced at constituency level to curb youth
from indulgence in substance abuse and criminal activities. Sixty Five Thousand
Two Hundred and Twenty-Three (65,223) youths have so far participated in the
tournaments.
d.
President’s Day and Constituency Art Competitions: This is an initiative
aimed at encouraging the youth and artists to unearth and develop their talent
through different activities such as music, dance and virtual arts to showcase
culture and heritage. One Hundred and Forty-Four Thousand and One (144, 001)
youth have participated in the competition since 2010.
The Industrial Property Act of 2010 repealed the Industrial Property Act of 1996.
The repealed law made no mention of the right to ownership of traditional
knowledge. The new Act, more specifically, Part XII has introduced the right to
ownership of traditional knowledge. In this regard, ownership of traditional
knowledge belongs to the owner of the traditional knowledge who has the right to
register it either as a local traditional practitioner, an individual or a local
community.
Traditional knowledge is defined as an idea, knowledge, practice, use or invention,
written or unwritten which, may be associated with biological diversity; is a
cultural, traditional or spiritual belief or value of a group of people. In 2013, the
Centre for Scientific Research, Indigenous Knowledge and Innovation in the
University of Botswana conducted a consultancy in order to formulate the Natural
Indigenous Knowledge Systems which resulted in the Indigenous Knowledge
Systems Policy.
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