LocationsServing Skills, One Sip at a Time
July 8, 2025
The culinary arts trainees under the Eswatini Youth Empowerment Programme preparing drinks for their guests.
On Friday, UNDP staff had the pleasure of enjoying sundowners prepared by culinary arts trainees under the Eswatini Youth Empowerment Programme (EYEP).
As part of showcasing the skills they’ve gained during their eight-week training, the youth participants invited UNDP Resident Representative, Mr Henrik Franklin, and his team to sample a variety of cocktails and mocktails at CIT College in Mbabane, where the training is being conducted.
The 20 trainees – 5 males and 15 females – were selected through an open application process to join the fully-sponsored EYEP Artisanal Skills Training Programme. The culinary arts course equips them with essential skills in catering, cooking, baking, and business management.
Friday’s engagement followed an earlier visit on 06 June by a technical team from UNDP, the Ministry of Economic Planning and Development, and the Eswatini National Youth Council, accompanied by UNDP Student Ambassadors. During that visit, the team was treated to a delicious lunch prepared by the same group of culinary trainees and interacted with another group of 15 youths – 11 males and four females – receiving training in cell phone repairs.
All participants are from the Lubombo and Shiselweni regions and are eager to utilise their newly acquired skills to start small businesses upon completion of the training.
“On behalf of the participants, I’d like to express our heartfelt gratitude to UNDP and its partners for allowing us to turn our dreams into reality,” said Mkhulisi Magagula. “While some of us may seek employment after this training to raise capital, our ultimate goal is to start our businesses.”
Bonkhe Maseko, UNDP procurement officer with his drink.
EYEP is a UNDP-supported initiative funded by the Ministry of Economic Planning and Development. It aims to address Eswatini’s youth unemployment, which stands at 56% among 15- to 35-year-olds, according to the 2023 Eswatini Integrated Labour Force Survey.
In addition to culinary arts and cell phone repairs, EYEP currently supports 90 young people from the same two regions who are undergoing three months of training in sewing, upholstery, and metalwork at the International Youth Fellowship in Manzini.
Empowering youth with practical, income-generating skills is not just a programme goal – it’s UNDP's commitment to supporting Eswatini in building a more resilient and self-reliant generation.
“UNDP is proud to have partnered with the Ministry of Economic Planning and Development and CIT College in equipping youth with skills to succeed in the competitive labour market. I was very inspired to engage with the talented youth, and I wish them success as they apply their culinary skills in fulfilling their professional dreams and aspirations,” said Henrik Franklin, UNDP Resident Representative.