As one way of keeping youths in school, a Lilongwe-based youth-led organisation, Active Youth Organisation 4 Development (AYOD) has partnered communities in Area 21 on education, child rights, youth empowerment and economic growth programmes.
Led by its executive director, Vitumbiko Visangwika Ngwira, the organisation is helping education access in local communities by, among others, renovating damaged school blocks, repairing damaged desks, chairs and other school properties.
Ngwira said the organisation decided to launch the exercise after noticing a huge number of learners dropping out of school.
“As an organisation, we couldn’t just stand and watch youths dropping out of school and do nothing and that’s why we decided to spare some time and work with communities,” he said.
Ngwira said the organisation has also brought back to school dozens of youths who dropped due to lack of school fees and other reasons.
“We are doing that through a special project we launched called Tipanga Nawo MW2063 Back to School Project,” said Ngwira.
In a bid to raise funds to support the initiatives, the organisation conducts fundraising music shows and other activities.
“We don’t rely much on begging and that’s why we do our own activities to raise funds for the projects,” he added.
This year alone, the organisation has renovated damaged school classes at Chiwoko Primary School, maintaining and producing new desks for Kachere Primary School, repairing desks, chairs and tables at Mlodza Secondary School and bringing back to school dozens of youths who dropped out of school.
AYOD’s initiatives have received praise from the National Youth Council of Malawi (NYCOM).
“AYOD’s work is proof that local youth-led initiatives are vital in breaking barriers to education and setting Malawi on a path towards sustainable and inclusive development,” said NYCOM’S executive director, Rex Chapota.
