Empowerment Program Transforms Lives of Women and Girls
The Girls Inspire Project is funded by the Commonwealth of Learning in Canada.
Mchinji, Malawi - A remarkable women's empowerment program, the Girls Inspire Project, has provided training in various skills to 120 women and girls, including tailoring, fashion and design, bakery, peanut butter production, sausage making, and shoe crafting, writes Gerald Fanuel.
The program, led by the Concerned Youth Organization (CYO), was initiated in 2019 in the Traditional Authorities of Nyoka and Zulu with the aim of equipping young women and girls with skills to improve their well-being and economic prospects in their communities.
Anastasia Tembo, a beneficiary from Chalusa village in T/A Nyoka, spoke about how her life was transformed by the program, which trained her in tailoring, fashion, and design.
She now runs her own tailoring shop, reducing the financial burden on her household and improving their overall well-being.
She said, "Tailoring has changed my life, as I don't depend on anyone now, having opened my own shop."
Jacqueline Mwanza, another beneficiary who was trained in tailoring, highlighted the quick income generation potential of the skills, as she earned money even during her training.
Her life underwent a significant change after the program.
"I was not able to make money on my own because I had no skills to start a business or get employed, but after being trained in tailoring, my life changed completely because I was able to make something for myself," she said.
Martha Mwale, who received training in peanut butter production, expressed gratitude to CYO for the opportunity.
She plans to use her newfound skills to combat malnutrition, which is a prevalent issue in T/A Nyoka.
She said, "In our area, there are many cases of malnutrition, and peanut butter is a nutrient-rich food that is good for the children; hence, it will help to reduce malnutrition in our community."
However, Mwale also mentioned that despite their training in peanut butter production, they are yet to receive peanut butter-making machines and appealed for assistance from well-wishers.
Tinenenji Maulidi, the Field Officer for CYO, expressed satisfaction with the women's enthusiastic response to the program and expressed optimism about its positive impact.
The Girls Inspire Project aims to empower women economically, enabling them to make their own choices and effectively combat gender-based violence in their communities.
Daisy Nkosi Khanje, the Mchinji District Gender Officer, acknowledged the program's transformative impact on women and girls.
She explained that many women and girls struggle to earn a living due to limited access to quality education and entrepreneurial skills.
Khanje commended CYO for empowering women and girls with vocational training, enhancing their economic independence and reducing vulnerabilities and gender-based violence.
While Maulidi recognized challenges during the program's implementation, including financial constraints, she noted that CYO sought partnerships with other NGOs to overcome these limitations.
The Girls Inspire Project is funded by the Commonwealth of Learning in Canada.