Youth Action in Development Activities (YADA) has trained 150 youth from Blantyre in information technology, tailoring, welding, carpentry and bricklaying as one way of empowering young people with vocational skills.
The Blantyre based organisation established the programme in 2019 to provide valuable skills to the youth in Zingwangwa, Mbayani and other surrounding areas of Blantyre.
In an interview with Malawi News Agency (MANA) on Wednesday, YADA Executive Director, Ian Wisiki said the programme aims is to ensure that young people have opportunity to acquire employable skills to enable them run their own businesses.
“A number of youths in the country do not have the means to pursue tertiary education but have the ability to do something out of the skills they possess or skills that can be instilled in them,” he said.
YADA partnered with Southern Region Informal Sector Training Providers to register with the Technical, Entrepreneurial and Vocational Education and Training Authority (TEVETA) to ensure that all trained students are getting certification under the informal training.
According to Wisiki, the organisation plans to extend its project to various districts to accommodate youths in all the districts across the country.
“Plans are underway to establish our own infrastructure accredited by TEVETA as a community vocational training centre,” he said.
Sophie Fumulani who studied tailoring, fashion and designing said she has greatly benefited from YADA.
“I have learnt a lot about fashion and fabric designing. I now have my own sewing machine and I am able to make new clothes from scratch. The income that I make from my business helps meet my daily needs,” she said.
Fumulani encouraged her fellow youth to seize such opportunities saying hands on skills are essential and pave way for self-reliance.
By Beatrice Ligomeka
