KACODO Empowers 25 Young Women and Men with Vocational Skills
The beneficiaries have undergone training in motor vehicle mechanics, carpentry and joinery, and tailoring.
MCHINJI, Malawi - At least 25 young women and men in Mchinji have been equipped with vocational skills by the Kapiri Community Development Organisation (KACODO), a local non-governmental organisation, writes Gerald Fanuel.
The beneficiaries have undergone training in motor vehicle mechanics, carpentry and joinery, and tailoring.
The initiative, which began in 2019, aims to empower young people with vocational skills to enhance their livelihoods.
The program has been made possible through funding from Action Aid Malawi.
Takondwa Lino, one of the beneficiaries from Thema, T/A Dambe, expressed her gratitude for the opportunity provided by KACODO.
She credited the tailoring training she received at KACODO for transforming her life. Lino now owns a successful tailoring shop at Kapiri Trading Center.
"Today I own a tailoring shop here at Kapiri thanks to the training I got from KACODO. My life has changed completely, and I am able to pay school fees for my two brothers, and our family is economically stable," Lino shared.
Lino also highlighted the challenges faced by young women who often marry early and lack the necessary skills to compete in the job market. However, she emphasized that her situation improved significantly after receiving training as a tailor. Lino, who was previously married and experienced financial difficulties, is now supporting her brothers' education.
Lino is now committed to creating opportunities for other women in similar situations and called for more organizations to support women and girls in need.
Another beneficiary, Olivia Mithi from Mchirumba village in T/A Dambe, expressed her appreciation for the opportunity provided by KACODO.
Although she has just started her journey in carpentry and joinery, Mithi has already witnessed positive changes in her life.
"Carpentry is very lucrative, whatever you make, people will come asking for it. Even though I have just started, I have already made some money," Mithi said.
Mithi shared that before KACODO's intervention, she had no prospects and was living in poverty due to not completing her education.
However, through the vocational training, she now sees a future and economic stability.
Dyson Chikoti, the Youth Monitoring and Evaluation Officer for KACODO, highlighted the high number of school dropouts in rural areas due to a lack of basic school necessities.
Chikoti emphasized the importance of equipping these youths with vocational skills to enhance their employability or enable them to start their own businesses, ultimately benefiting their communities.
Daisy Khanje, the Mchinji District Gender Officer, commended KACODO for its vocational training programs.
Khanje noted that gender-based violence often occurs due to women and girls' dependence on others, which limits their decision-making power.
She expressed optimism that technical skills training would empower these disadvantaged individuals, providing economic stability and freedom to pursue their aspirations.
Despite the program's successes, Chikoti acknowledged the overwhelming need for vocational skills training among youths who lack education.
However, the organization faces resource constraints in reaching more young people.
Chikoti expressed hope that additional funding would be secured to expand the program's reach.
Since its inception in 2019, the initiative has already benefited over 130 individuals.