Youth centre empowering orphans with skills

Doreen Nyirenda, 21, from Zatuwaloje Village, Traditional Authority (T/A) Lungu in Mzimba was uncertain about her future. Her parents died in 2012 while she was sitting for the Malawi School Certificate of Education (MSCE) examinations at Chinunkha Community Day Secondary School (CDSS) in the district.

She dreamt of becoming an accountant, but her grades did not warrant her a place at the public universities.

“I got 39 points in my MSCE, and I was disappointed. I wanted to repeat Form Four and improve my grades and go to the University of Malawi and study accounting, but there was no one to pay for my school fees,” says Doreen, adding she could also not enrol at a private college for the same reason

Since that time, Doreen has been staying idle at her brother’s house.

However, she finally saw light at the end of tunnel when Technical Entrepreneurial Vocational Education and Training Authority (Teveta) organised a tailoring course in her area.

Considering the bleak future she faced, Doreen quickly jumped at the opportunity and enrolled for the course. Thus, since January 3 this year, she and 22 other youths were recruited and now earn a living out of tailoring after being trained by Teveta at Sonda Youth and Community Development Centre.

“When I told my brother about the opportunity, he encouraged me to go for it. I started the training and am now able to operate a sewing machine and sew clothes. I am happy that I am among the few self-employed people in my community,” she says.

Doreen is no longer an ordinary citizen. She is now a well known female tailor in her community.

“Currently, I am very famous. My customers love that I make good school uniforms, office wear and other clothes. This helps me raise money and I am able to feed myself and pay school fees for my two young sisters who go to Katoto Secondary School in Mzuzu,” she said.

It is for young people like Doreen that government, through Teveta, is implementing various programmes under the informal sector to rescue them from an uncertain future. The programme, according to Teveta executive director Wilson Makulumiza-Nkhoma, aims at developing quality skills among the youth so that they should be financially independent.

“This training aims at equipping the youth and other disadvantaged groups with skills that would enable them to become employable, both through self-employment and wage earnings, so that they should improve their living standards. The programme also ensures that relevant and adequate skills are available in local communities so as to steer social and economic development,” said Makulumiza-Nkhoma

He said the training programmes are demand-driven and target skills development for rural masses such as micro-entrepreneurs; community groupings; people with disabilities and marginalised groups such as women and orphans like Doreen.

Sonda Youth and Community Development Centre board chairperson Levi Soko said he is happy that Teveta is helping the centre realise its vision.

“Teveta provides us with standards on how we can practically realise that every child and young person is cared for and nurtured into a meaningful adult life. We want to see to it that underprivileged children and young people grow into independent, productive and responsible adults who take an active role in the socio-economic development of the country,” said Soko.

McLove Kamba, programmes manager for the centre, says over 100 youths have graduated from the centre in various technical skills since its inception in 2007.

“To achieve our mission and objectives, we have a number of programmes such as HIV and Aids awareness and prevention, nursery programmes, livestock programmes and apprenticeship training programmes. So far, we have produced over 100 artisans in technical and vocational trainings such as carpentry and joinery, tailoring, knitting and tinsmith,” says Kamba.

T/A Nkosana Unyolo Lungu, whose area is benefiting from the centre, thanked the initiative, saying it has gone a long way in minimising social problems among the youth in his communities.

“We had a number of social challenges affecting our communities ranging from unemployment and orphanhood, among other things. But with the coming of the centre, the situation has changed. We appeal to donors to continue supporting the centre so that its programmes should benefit more people,” said Lungu.