Standing out against disability and discrimination

Joys that life offer have eluded Peter Magombo, 36, of Bembeke Village, Traditional Authority (T/A) Kamenyagwaza in Dedza. His disability has been inability in the eyes of some people in his village, including his parents.

From the day he was born, Magombo suffered discrimination, such that he was not given an opportunity to go to school with his peers. But he later defied his parents and singlehandedly found his way to the classroom.

“I really wanted to be in class to have an opportunity for education, but my parents discouraged me. They said it would be difficult for me to learn in an environment where the majority are normal. But it took my courage to disregard them,” said Peter.

His persistence yielded results; he managed to finish secondary school education and passed the Malawi School Certificate of Education (MSCE) with 38 points at Katoto Secondary School. Despite his persistence, his parents were determined to bar him.

“Although I proved capable of achieving something in life, my parents never accepted it. They did not support me to go for further studies after finishing my secondary school,” claimed Peter.

International frameworks such as the Convention on the Rights of the Child stipulate that all school going children, regardless of disability, have the right to education.

Perhaps Peter’s parents did not know or lacked solution for their supposed predicament. These, among other reasons, denied them the joy of parenthood.

It is one of the reasons Sonda Youth and Community Development Centre was established.

Launched in 2006, the organisation aims to tackle social problems afflicting youths and underprivileged community members.

“Our aim is to enhance quality life by reducing their suffering through vocational skills training, counseling, early childhood development and academic support.

“This is how we identified Peter and enrolled him for a tailoring training,” said Levi Soko, the centre’s board secretary.

Currently, Peter is among beneficiaries making a living through tailoring in Mzuzu City.

“My tailoring shop is the most successful in the area. Everyone comes to me for latest fashions. I make suits and school uniforms too,” boasted Peter.

The centre is located at the margin of Mzuzu, surrounded by 18 villages under Inkosana Unyolo Lungu.

Offering various apprenticeships training programmes such as carpentry and joinery; horticulture, tins smith and knitting, the centre is registered under Technical Entrepreneurial, Vocational Education and Training (Tevet).

Tevet registration and inspection specialist Crispin Daudi said for an institution to merit registration it has to have a board comprising a minimum of three members.

Mclove Kamba is programmes manager for the centre.

“What we need is to be recognised by various stakeholders, including government for the centre to be a national campus for technical and vocational training,” said Kamba.

The Ministry of Labour said recently that government will develop community colleges where youths will be getting training by January to facilitate self-employment.

Probably, the centre might be among community colleges that may benefit from government’s initiative to enhance its capacity in rescuing others who are like Peter.