By Sheminah Nkhoma

Lilongwe, October 4, Mana: Vice President Dr. Michael Usi, has appreciated the Good News Mission for the support they are providing to the country in empowering the youth.

Usi made the remarks on Friday during the grand opening of International Youth Fellowship (IYF) centre in Lilongwe.

He said it is high time young people utilise their skills and talents to develop the nation.

“We live in a country where we cannot just depend on being employed by other people. It’s time to use our skills and resources just like this facility will help youth to acquire different technical skills and make them independent,” Usi said.

The urged the young people to maintain, preserve and protect the facility as it will be an asset towards shaping their future.

“As government, we look at the Malawi 2063 whereby we want to have independent youth. So, this facility should not be taken for granted but an opportunity to make good use of it,” he said.

Secretary for IYF, Rev. Young Joo Park, said it is their wish to see Malawi developing in all aspects that is why they want to empower the young ones as they have the ability to make a change.

He stated that IYF in Korea has opened a university whereby they want to train people from Malawi and other countries in different fields so that they can help their nations.

Minister of Youth and Sports, Uchizi Mkandawire, said government is committed in ensuring that youth have attained technical skills to contribute to the development of the country.

“The ministry has started partnerships with different stakeholders to make sure that youth are developed. So, the coming in of IYF will help youth who are struggling to be employed to come and learn technical skills as they have a training centre,” said Mkandawire.

One of the beneficiaries, Yhobson Kumwenda, expressed gratitude to IYF for training him with media skills in broadcasting, photography and editing.

Kumwenda was selected to go to Kenya and pursue his education which, he said, has helped him to find a job in the media industry.

IYF will be providing youth with skills in media, tailoring, carpentry and construction.

Currently, IYF has branches in over 100 countries worldwide.

Established in 2001 in South Korea, IYF is a global youth organisation and NGO that provides local and international volunteers opportunities through a vast global network.