By Fostina Mkandawire

Salima, May 5, Mana: Youths in Salima district have hailed the Climate Smart Enhanced Public Works Programme (CSEPWP) for improving their livelihoods.

Speaking after receiving her wages for cycle three of the CS-EPWP at Ngodzi in the area of Senior Chief Kambalame on Saturday, Amina Maulana, 20 hailed the programme for making her self-reliant after working for all the three cycles.

She said she managed to join a Village Savings Group where she has managed to save enough money to start selling second hand clothes.

"Working under this programme has improved my life, through the business I am able to buy myself necessary items such as clothes, helping my parents with small things like buying soap, salt and sometimes relish," Maulana said.

Another participant, Joseph Chituwire 27, from Chenkhumba Village in the area of Senior Chief Kambalame, said he now feels like a productive and responsible citizen after being enrolled into the programme, since he was now working towards restoring the environment.

"We felt neglected for a long time because most programmes were centered on the elderly and children but with this one we have been considered, working for three cycles under this programme has assisted me to have a better outlook about social protection programmes," he said.

On his part, Edward Kalonga, 21 from the area of Senior Chief Ndindi said they receive K 28,800 after working for 24 days a month in each cycle adding that he has managed to buy local chickens which was rearing and manages to sale when he needs to buy food items.

Acting Youth Officer for the district, Samuel Chimwaza said unemployment was one of the biggest challenges that the district is facing, therefore having programmes that incorporate the youth to earn an income is commendable.

He said 70 percent of the district's population consists of the youth, therefore if a larger part of the population is staying idle means there would be more cases of theft and vandalism, a development which would be worrisome.

"Most of the youths after receiving their wages, they saved money and have invested in small scale businesses making themselves self-reliant and this has led them to become responsible citizens who are contributing to the development of the district," he said.

Salima District Council is disbursing wages for cycle three of the programme in 16 catchments implementing different projects all working towards environmental restoration and management.

CS-EPWP is a component under the Social Support for Resilient Livelihoods Project (SSRLP).

The SSRLP is a government project funded by the Multi Donor Trust Fund facilitated by National Local Government Finance Committee (NLGFC) in all the 28 district councils.