GABORONE, July 26 (Xinhua) -- Youth employability challenges in Botswana continue to spur the private sector to make substantive contributions towards unemployment.

Keabetswe Pheko-Moshagane, Absa Bank Botswana Managing Director on Monday said the bank has established an online platform dedicated to building capacity and upskilling the vulnerable youth group aged between 18-25 against the high unemployment rate in Botswana.

"We recognize that in Botswana and as in the rest of our continent, a key challenge is the high level of youth unemployment. We understand that young people face significant challenges in realizing their ambitions, many linked to limited opportunities, and lack of skills."

"As a bank, we recognize that our future lies in the hands of our youth, and we therefore have a role to play in creating an ecosystem that supports youth employability in Botswana," said Keabetswe Pheko-Moshagane.

The program is in collaboration with youth-owned entity, iBranch Recruiters, an innovative company registered with the Botswana Innovation Hub and enrolled under the Hub's incubation program.

According to the bank, the youth hub will utilize the bank's existing program of ReadytoWork as well as additional programs provided by iBranch Recruiters to help human resource practitioners connect with role specific candidates in real time.

The youth hub has a Career Development Program that focuses on upskilling youth and assisting them with becoming employed. The specific services provided at the hub include career services programs such as CV writing, interviewing skills, preparation for aptitude tests, industrial training, and internships.

Moreover, the hub will provide entrepreneurship development through the mentorship of youth entrepreneurs in partnership with the Enterprise and Supply Chain Development rogram and masterclasses with experts on various aspects of entrepreneurship.

"All these are part of our efforts of transforming ordinary jobseekers into Job Ready and Employable candidates of tomorrow. Our collaboration with Absa Bank Botswana comes at an opportune time as it will help us scale our efforts and make more impact in the lives of Batswana at large," said Tshepiso Leinane of iBranch Recruiters.

Meanwhile Pheko-Moshagane said improving youth employability is the bank's top priorities, adding that Absa is dedicated and passionate about driving positive change in the communities.