60 youths drilled in vocational skills

M

angochi district commissioner Raphael Piringu has urged 60 youths who have undergone vocational training in the district to use the skills to improve their lives.

The youths, from Senior Chief Makanjira and Traditional Authority Lulanga, underwent training in carpentry, bricklaying, auto mobile mechanics, electrical installation, welding and fabrication as well as designing and tailoring with support from the Government of Iceland.

Speaking on Wednesday during the graduation in Senior Chief Makanjira, Piringu said the district council expects the youth to create employment in their areas.

“If you work hard, the vocational skills will help you to become economically independent,” he said.

Piringu encouraged the youth to form groups to make it easy to access loans to start small-scale businesses.

He warned the youth against selling the equipment they received upon graduating.

The Embassy of Iceland programmes manager Mphatso Sokosa said they were committed to empowering youths in the country through vocational, technical and entrepreneurial skill trainings.

“We want to see many youths become economically independent. That is why we trained these youths. We also gave them start-up equipment,” he said.

Thokozani Banda, who graduated in bricklaying, said the skills will help him earn money.

“Young people need vocational skills to employ themselves. This is the way to go,” she said.

Banda said this is not the time to wait for formal employment in government or other institutions because the youth can create jobs for themselves through vocational skills.

The youth graduated at Malawi Children Village and Ajimwiche Technical College.

Mangochi District Council is implementing Malawi Basic Service Programme phase two  through the District Youth Office.