Community-Led Organization in Nsanje District Trains Youth in Construction Skills to Address Unemployment and Win Government Contracts
Another youth member, Star Malizani trained as an electrician, said he has done electrical work in countless houses in Nsanje and Chikwawa districts.
Malawi: The Bangula Vocation Group (BVG), a community-led organization in Nsanje District, is addressing the problem of unemployment by training young people in various construction skills to help them become economically independent, writes Cornelius Lupenga.
The 23-member group comprises youth with skills such as builders, carpenters, electricians, painters, plumbers and welders among others, whose vision is to receive recognition from the government so that they can win government construction contracts.
Phillip Samson, trained with the organization as a carpenter, says since he received the training, he has been able to work on over 12 houses apart from making various furniture thereby perfecting his art.
"I have also constructed about forty boats for organizations such as Churches Actions in Relief and Development-CARD and the Eagles, plus some for local community members who ply water transport at Mtayamoyo and Kalenso dockyards,” disclosed Samson. "During the 2015 floods some of the boats used to ferry flood victims to Makhanga Island were constructed by me," he recalled.
Another youth member, Star Malizani trained as an electrician, said he has done electrical work in countless houses in Nsanje and Chikwawa districts.
He added that besides doing electrical installation works on some lodges around Bangula Trading Centre and the Bible School in Nsanje, Malizani has also trained two colleagues who had an ambition of becoming an electrician.
“With proceeds realized from this work, I have been able to buy cattle and goats and built a good house for myself," he beamed with pride.
Anthony Ngundumu another member who is a painter said he cannot remember the number of houses, schools and lodges he had painted in his career.
He disclosed to Africabrief that he has worked on institutions such as Bangula Secondary School, Hope Lodge, Hope Dream Secondary School, offices for Nsanje District Council and Concern World Wide.
"I have even rendered my services to some institutions in Tete in Mozambique," added Ngundumu.
Maxwell Vinti has trained as a builder and he confided to Africabrief that he has built hundreds of houses in Nsanje, Chikwawa and has gone as far as Mozambique where he got well-paying contracts.
"Currently, I have four assistants who are understudying me and I am sure they will be able to stand on their own soon," disclosed Vinti.
A spokesperson for the group, Alfred Mchawa who is a roofing carpenter says besides the individual successes that most of the members have registered, BVG is yet to make meaningful success in achieving its ambition because it is not yet a registered entity.
"We have met several influential individuals who have helped us with the process of registration, but it’s still a long way to go," he revealed.
An expert in the Construction Industry, Joel Chingani has hailed the group for coming up with the initiative and has urged the youth to have their organization registered with the National Construction Industry Council-NCIC for proper recognition. He said the NCIC regulates, develops and promotes the construction industry in the country.
"There are numerous benefits of belonging to institutions like the NCIC such that you are eligible to participate in bidding for construction work contracts, training in small, medium and large scale contracts," he said.
Chingani also advised the members that as a youthful organization, they have to register with other groups such as the Association of Indigenous contractors.