The CCAP Synod of Livingstonia in partnership with Plan Malawi has empowered 242 youths with vital vocational and entrepreneurial skills through a special project called Zantchito.
The youths, comprising 169 young women and 73 young men have been equipped with knowledge in soap making, capently, tailoring and fashion designing.
Speaking Friday at Ekwendeni Lay Training Centre in Mzimba during the graduation, Zantchito project manager Blessings Njolomole commended the graduating youths for religiously following training instructions.
Njolomole said through the initiative, CCAP Synod of Livingstonia and Plan Malawi hope to minimise the problem of high unemployment rate affecting youths in the country.
“Through this initiative, we seek to help mitigate the impact of unemployment in the country as these youths have now attained hands-on skills that will enable them to embark on vocational skills business,” he said.
Njolomole said most of the trainees have shown willingness to venture into entrepreneurship, a development he described as commendable.
“Some have vowed to start producing their own soap, some want to venture into hair dressing business, others mobile phone repair business while some want to try seed production. I commend them for showing the spirit to prosper,” said Njolomole.
He thanked the European Union (EU) through Plan Malawi for sponsoring the project.
One of the trainees, Rodwell Nyirenda expressed excitement, saying he will use the skills he has attained to venture into a meaningful business.
“I am hoping to open my own mobile phone repair shop very soon because now I am a professional,” he said.
Plan Malawi is implementing the Zantchito project with special support from the EU which pumped in financial support worth €3.1 million.
The four-year project which began in March 2023 will end in February 2027.
