NGO supports out-of-school young women

Young Women Rise (Yowori), a non-governmental organisation, says enhancing technical and entrepreneurial skills training for poor and marginalised young women can improve their livelihoods.

Yowori assistant executive director Ethel Mkandawire said this in  all villages in Traditional Authority (T/A) Ntchema in Chiradzulu last Saturday during the disbursement of loans to young women who underwent a six-month training in tailoring and design.

She said without employment or acquiring a skill, young women are among the most vulnerable in society.

“The main aim was to empower young women living below the poverty line to acquire a skill to improve their socio-economic welfare and take care of their menstrual hygiene through sanitary pad making skills,” said Mkandawire.

She said for young vulnerable women, learning a trade is more than just attaining a skill because it is a path to a better life and a bright future.

Joana Kamtunda, a local leader, said apart from tailoring and management skills, they also learnt sexual reproductive health rights to avoid contracting HIV and Aids.

“Many young women dropped out of school because of teen pregnancies, early and forced marriages. But these only led to more poverty. We gave them a second chance to become independent and be able to support themselves,” she said.

The project was being funded by Eight One Africa, but now it is supported by World Connect.