8 girls from Mtandile township in Lilongwe have joined forces to open a tailoring shop in Mtandile township as one way of averting the threat of early marriages.
Led by its leader, Martha Jackson, the girls have transformed their passion for fashion into a thriving business.
Jackson said the girls, aged between 15-17 decided to pursue entreprenuership after completing secondary school education last year.
“We didn’t want to just sit at home and wait for opportunities to come to us, we decided to take matters into our hands,” Jackson said.
The tailoring shop, which has become a hub of activity in the township, is not only a source of income for the girls but also a symbol of their empowerment.
The girls sell merchandise such as well tailored school uniforms and reusable sanitary pads, just to mention a few.
“Our main focus currently is the sell of school uniforms and reusable sanitary pads because these products attract a lot of customers, mostly our colleagues who are still in school,” said Jackson.
After noticing their passion for entreprenuership, an organization called Girls Shine Foundation came in and trained them on how to run a business.
The organization’s executive director Diverson Satha said his organization was impressed by how the girls took charge of their destinies.
“By taking charge of their own lives and creating their own opportunities, these girls are proving that with determination, hard work and supportive network, anything is possible,” said Satha.
Meanwhile, the group says it’s vision is to become one of the country’s leading fashion designing companies.
