By Sylvester Kumwenda

Dowa, October 8, Mana: Programme Manager for World Vision in Dowa and Kasungu, Arnold Tsalayekha has called for investment into the youth to realize Malawi's 2063 agenda of youth economic empowerment.

He made the remarks on Monday at Lipili in Traditional Authority Kayembe in Dowa, when World Vision Malawi handed over 45 sewing machines to youth who underwent a six-month training in tailoring, and 15 other machines to be used for training of other youth at Lipili.

He said one of the solutions to empower the youth in line with the Malawi 2064 agenda is to equip them with vocational skills for self-sustaining economic endeavors.

"If you look at the MW2063 agenda, the youths are supposed to be very productive and have a responsibility of contributing to the economic development of this country. But they need help.

"So by strengthening their different skills, we are not only empowering their productivity on an individual level but also on how they can partake in the national development and realization of our goals," he said.

Apart from tailoring skills, World Vision has also supported and trained other youths in motorcycle repair, welding, and fabrication.

The donation is worth MK22 million.

Currently, World Vision has partnered with the Technical, Entrepreneurial, Vocational, and Education Training Authority to continue training the youth as the organization plans to leave the area after 18 years of the programme’s intervention at Lipili, with support from World Vision New Zealand.

"As we are leaving, we leave an empowered community that is very productive, has a vision for their future, and a community that will be able to sustain the interventions in place.

"And even when other organizations come to this area to work, I think they will find it easy because they will find a community that is already prepared for development," he said.

19-year-old Winnie Custom of Yohane village in an interview said the donation will boost her vision of economic independence.

"We used to rent sewing machines which we were using, and that was expensive. But with my machine, I will be able to improve on my income generation, which I can use in taking care of myself, my parents, and help realise my dream of owning my shop," she said.

She then urged other young girls not to look down upon themselves but strive to achieve their dreams saying anything is possible with determination.

Another beneficiary, George Junior Banda of Lipili village thanked World Vision Malawi for the donation saying this will help the youth become better versions of themselves, rather than spending time engaging in self-destructive behaviors.

"In the future, I would also like to train other youths so that they can also be self-reliant," he said.

Friday Kalonga, Chairperson of Kayembe Area Development Committee in his remarks said they will make sure the donation is put to its intended purposes by making sure the beneficiaries sign a Memorandum of Understanding and that they abide by it.