NGO saves youths from child labour

Impact Centre for Economic Empowerment and Development has rescued 50 youths working in coffee farms in Traditional Authority (T/A) Khosolo in Mzimba District.

Speaking in an interview on Wednesday, the organisation’s executive director Madalitso Chidumu said they have since offered the youth different vocational skills.

She said: “The initiative falls under the Accelerating Action in the Elimination of Child Labour Programme. We are implementing with funds from International Labour Organisation [ILO].

“We partnered ILO to eliminate child labour in T/A Khosolo in the district through economic empowerment and vocational training.”

Chidumu said the youth, who graduated in carpentry and joinery, tailoring, electrical installation and bricklaying, will each receive start-up tools from the organisation.

She also said they distributed about K3.2 million to six community business groups to enable them venture into small-scale businesses.

“The funds are meant to empower them to venture into business and be able to support their families to avoid sending their children to work,” said Chidumu.

One of the youth, Isaac Kanyichi, who learned carpentry and joinery, said he will not return to the coffee plantations.

“We were working in coffee farms where we used to get K500 per day, which was unfortunate. Now, we were trained in different technical skills which we believe will transform our lives,” he said.

Evenly Mbewe, a mother of three and a member of Chendawaka business group, said they received about K960 000 which they invested in bean and maize farming.

Mzimba district labour officer Russell Mhone commended the NGO for the initiative, saying it has helped in the fight against child labour, which is rampant in the district