Youth organisation in job creation drive

Lilongwe-based youth organisation, Acades Malawi says it is committed to creating more job opportunities for the youth.

Speaking on Thursday after World Bank and Ministry of Agriculture officials toured Acades Malawi offices in Lilongwe, the organisation’s co-founder Madalitso Chipekwe said her organisation is concerned with the high number of unemployed youths in the country.

“We have many young people that have graduated from various universities and colleges, but they are failing to get jobs. As an organisation, with support from Agricultural Commercialisation [Agcom], we are committed to employing more of these youths,” he said.

Chipekwe said the organisation has employed over 3 000 young people in the production of legume seeds, including soya beans which are sold to farmers in the country.

Chipekwe said they are empowering youthful farmers in rural areas with modern farming skills.

With funding from World Bank, Agcom project was started in 2017 to help in enhancing agri-business in the country and the project is expected to phase out in 2023.

World Bank country director Mara Warwick said as World Bank, they are impressed with how Acades Malawi has benefited from Agcom project.

“At Acades we have seen that so many young people are working together with passion in creating jobs for themselves and also making sure that they are developing their own business, we are so impressed to see young people doing that,” she said.

Secretary for Agriculture Sandram Mawelu commended World Bank for supporting Agcom project.