By Paul Madise
Lilongwe, July 4, Mana: Director and founder of Rise Malawi Ministries, Dr Zamumtima Chijere, say plans are underway to partner with Technical, Entrepreneurial and Vocational Education and Training (TEVET) Authority for the successful implementation of the Rise Malawi Vocational Training School.
Chijere told Malawi News Agency (MANA) that the proposed project is designed to supplement technical and vocational education and training provided by the Malawi Government and other non-governmental organizations in the country.
He said Rise Malawi Ministries has, so far, managed to reach out to almost 13,000 youths through its programs since 2009.
The ministry offers feeding program, summer camp, child and youth rights advocacy, girl's empowerment, high school project, youth dream centre and youth job training program, among others.
"We believe that, in order to improve the well-being of people, we need to provide quality education from primary to tertiary levels," he said.
However, Chijere expressed concern on the ministry’s sustainability saying as a Christian nonprofit organization it relies on donor aid and some funds generated through high school programs.
"It has been difficult to raise money locally. Most of our money comes from outside Malawi. We have friends and some churches that support our initiatives and these have been our major source of income for the ministry to thrive over the years," he said.
Speaking on behalf of the youth that have been through Rise Malawi Ministry programs, Harkson Mayilosi, commended the ministry’s leadership for their timely interventions in putting the youth in the community at the spotlight and also facilitating realization of their dreams.
"My dream to become a skillful engineer has come true. Rise Malawi has taken a step and started organizing to build a workshop for me to teach the youth in the community," he said.
Mayilosi has managed to design a boat which is, currently, being used by fishermen at Lifuwu site in Salima.
Rise Malawi Ministries situated in Madisi, Dowa focuses on marginalized people in the society.
