Community college trainees receive tools

Technical, Entrepreneurial and Vocational Education and Training Authority (Teveta) on Wednesday presented start-up tools to 78 trainees at Ezondweni Community Technical College in Mzimba.

The recipients completed their two-year training in carpentry and joinery, tailoring, welding and fabrication, plumbing and bricklaying last year.

Teveta service centre manager (North) Conceptor Kachoka said apart from the tools, the institution will offer the trainees business loans.

“Having given them skills, we want them to stand on their own. But they cannot do that without a starter pack of tools,” she said.

President Peter Mutharika launched the community technical programme in March 2015 to give the youth skills for self-employment, job creation and poverty alleviation.

Acting principal Victoria Chipeta said the tools will empower the trainees to venture into businesses after obtaining Tevet Level 2 certificates.

She said the college will be following up on the graduates to monitor how they are utilising the tools. n