Centre for Alternatives for Victimised Women and Children (Cavwoc) has trained 50 women from mother groups and 50 students from four community day secondary schools (CDSS) in Phalombe District in soap-making and financial literacy.
The women are from traditional authorities Nazombe and Mkhumba while the girls are from Michesi, Mpasa, Chiringa and Holy Family CDSSs.
their soap. | Maggie Tembo
Speaking on Monday after the training, Cavwoc project officer Zacheaus Twea said they decided to train the women in soap-making because it is a product needed in everyday life.
He said they included financial literacy training to help the women and girls manage their income effectively.
“We want to ensure that their businesses thrive to improve their livelihoods,” said Twea.
One of the beneficiaries, Violet Luka, said the training will improve her financial life.
“The soap-making skills will help us generate money to provide for our families,” she said.
Chiringa CDSS Form Four student Judith Chimwala said the training will help them to venture into small-scale business during holidays.
“As girls, we are mostly subjected to sexual abuse because we are not financially stable and our parents cannot provide for us, but with the skills, we will be able to support ourselves,” she said.
The beneficiaries will receive start-up capital and will support needy students in schools from their businesses as part of the agreement with Cavwoc.
With funding from Oxfam Hong Kong, Cavwoc and Oxfam in Malawi are implementing the project to empower girls and vulnerable girls and women in the district.
