Youths in traditional authorities Chikowi and Mbiza in Zomba District have commended Save the Children for training them in vocational skills to become economically independent.
The vocational training was part of interventions the organisation implemented under its Resilience Economic Development Gains (Red) project from 2019 to 2025.
To make the youth productive, Save the Children in partnership with Technical, Entrepreneurial and Vocational Education Training Authority (Teveta) trained 400 youths in various courses, including motorcycle mechanics, carpentry and joinery, electrical installation, bricklaying and cosmetology.
One of the youth who benefitted from the vocational skills training is Nyozani Manthalu from Mayaka in T/A Chikowi.
In an interview on Wednesday, he said he dropped out of school in Form Two in 2022.
He said: “I was born in a family of eight children and all of us dropped out because our parents separated. Fortunately, Red project sponsored my training in phone repairs.
“I received start-up tools such as tester, soldering iron, soldering wire. I opened a shop in 2022 at Mayaka Trading Centre.”
Manthalu said he is now able to support his family. He also employed fellow youths at his shop.
Zomba District Council youth mobiliser Enock Chabwera thanked Save the Children for training 400 youths in vocational and entrepreneurship courses.
“These youths are now economically independent. Some of them have opened their workshops and have created employment for others,” he said.
Save the Children Red project manager Macpherson Kapalamula said they implemented a number of livelihood and environmental conservation interventions in the areas.
“We wanted to promote food security and financial sustainability and build resilience against disasters. At the time we are phasing out the project, 814 households are practising climate-smart agriculture,” he said.
