The Regional Youth Forum Chairperson for Namibia's Karas region, Gert Titus, says the youth in the region take things for granted.

Speaking to Nampa about challenges and opportunities of the youth at Keetmanshoop, Titus pointed out that the greatest problem is how the youth in the Karas region perceive life.

He cited as example, young people who are invited to meetings on youth empowerment, but fail to turn up for these important gatherings.

He noted that the reason why the youth are becoming victims of alcohol and drug abuse is because of the mushrooming of sheebens across the country.

Titus pointed out that youth centres are almost empty with only a few people, but shebeens nearby are full.

On education in the region, he said the Namibia Institute of Mining and Technology at Keetmanshoop is a platform for the youth to study and avoid involving themselves in negative behaviour such as alcohol and drug abuse, amongst others.

Titus said the reason for the high unemployment rate in the Karas region, was a result of poor performances by Grade Ten and 12 learners.