‘Lack of vocational skills fuelling unemployment’
Save the Children Malawi has blamed lack of access to vocational skills among the youth as contributing to the high rate of unemployment in the country.
Youth In Action project coordinator Allan Kalolokesya said this during the handover ceremony of sewing machines to youths who underwent a four-month tailoring and fashion design training at Bowe Technical College in Kasungu.
receives a sewing machine
He said the project seeks to economically empower the youth to become self-reliant and contribute towards the country’s economic growth.
“The project seeks to uplift the youths to be self-reliant. We want youth to be productive and contribute to national development. But for them to do that they need vocational skills; hence, the training,” said Kalolokesya.
He said 462 youths benefited through apprenticeship and vocational skills and equipment.
District youth officer Maudling Nhlema said the project targeted youths who dropped out of school due to poverty and early marriages.
One of the graduates, Doreen Paul, from Traditional Authority (T/A) Mavwere in Mchinji thanked Save the Children for the training.
The project is being implemented in Mchinji, Kasungu and Ntchisi districts.
