Mchinji youths drilled in making shoes

Concerned Youth Organisation, a non-governmental organisation (NGO), has trained Mchinji youths in making shoes with locally-available materials.

The 30-day training that took place in five traditional authorities (T/As) in the district has equipped school leavers and dropouts with shoe making skills.

In an interview, the NGO’s Mchinji district field officer Aubrey Chidziwisano said they introduced the project to reduce gender inequality gaps through providing vocational skills to women and girls.

“We want them to be able to generate income to support their families,” he said.

Chimwemwe Mwenyemasi, the 2016 Malawi Broadcasting Corporation Innovation Awards winner, was the main facilitator in the training.

He asked government and other stakeholders in the country to re-energise the Buy Malawi Strategy which he said might help in promoting local industries.

Georgina Gama, a participant from Nyoka Village in T/A Nyoka, said she will start her own business.

The six-month K21 million worth project dubbed Lifelong Learning (L3M) for mothers and out-of-school girls, equips the target groups with skills in tailoring and shoe-making in T/As Nyoka, Mduwa, Mkanda, Zulu and Dambe in the district.

The project is funded by Commonwealth of Learning.