InspireX, through its Design the Future programme, says it is preparing secondary school students for financially-rewarding careers in digital media and technology.
The initiative, which concluded its pilot phase at Chipasula Secondary School in Lilongwe on Tuesday, focuses on equipping young people with practical skills in graphic design, motion graphics, videography, animation, software development and storytelling.
InspireX chief operations officer Enoch Thom said they are showing students that skills such as coding, videography and graphic design are not fall-back options, but high-value tools they can monetise.
“Our own company was built on videography. These same skills can create jobs and contribute to Malawi’s economic growth,” he said.
On his part, InspireX chief creative officer Ekari Faria said the programme is designed to shift mindsets early.
“Most people turn to digital skills after failing elsewhere. We’re reaching students before they make those decisions. We want them to choose creative careers from the start,” he said.
Students in the InspireX programme not only interact with industry mentors, but also engage in hands-on projects, including drone demonstrations, visual storytelling and design challenges.
“I used to do graphic design as a hobby,” said Angella Juma, a Form 3 student at Chipasula. “Now I see it as a career. I didn’t know what I wanted to be before, but this has helped me realise my path.”
In an earlier interview, Malawi University of Business and Applied Sciences information and communications lecturer Umali Leonard said introducing students and young people to modern programming languages early in their academic studies will prepare them for the contemporary job market.
“The programme is being implemented in partnership with Noble Minds, a creative business solutions firm and targets students, especially girls, at a formative stage in their education.
