The Youth Empowerment Scheme in Information & Communications Technologies (YES-ICT) is a youth-owned network of business that provides ICT services across Botswana. The Franchise eco-system comprises of 23 regional centres at full roll-out with each cetre owned and operated by citizen youth ICT graduates. The companies offer aggregated ICT services including computer maintenance and repairs, systems support, sale of ICT consumables, internet access and computer literacy training to communities. On full roll out, YES-ICT franchise business seeks to create 514 sustainable jobs for graduate youth by placing at least one Affiliate Technician (AT) in every village in the country. The initiative seeks to reduce the high number of unemployed ICT gradutes (4,000 unemployed ICT graduates as of 2015), provide universal access to ICT and services, cultivate the spirit of entrepreneurship in youth people as well as close the digital divide. The Founder and Champion of the initiative, Ms Rona Tshiamo is working with the Association of Citizen-owned Companies in Information Technology (CoBIT) for its experienced member companies to subcontract YES-ICT companies for nationwide project. Currently, some YES-ICT companies are successfully subcontracted for the nationwide Cisco Network Standardisation Project. YES-ICT companies target customers such as communities, government departments and ministries, schools, parastatals and private companies in need to ICT services or access to them.

https://www.facebook.com/pg/Yes-Ict-1696609913892279

• Botswana

• Youth

The companies offer aggregated ICT services including computer maintenance and repairs, systems support, sale of ICT consumables, internet access and computer literacy training to communities.