Karonga Bishop Trains 1,000 Women in Soap, Body Lotion Manufacturing
Bishop Mwang’onda of WCC launches soap, lotion training for 1,000 women
Karonga, Malawi — Bishop Agabus Mwang’onda of the World Christian Centre (WCC) has embarked on a training programme for 1,000 women in soap and body lotion manufacturing, writes Draxon Maloya.
The training is being conducted in partnership with BEAM Investment, a pharmaceutical manufacturing enterprise based in the capital city of Lilongwe.
Mwang’onda said he launched the training programme in response to the need to empower women and improve their livelihoods.
He said that many of the businesses that women are currently running are seasonal and not sustainable.
“When we say let’s empower our women, it must be something that is genuine and not these other seasonal business opportunities that are not sustainable considering a number of economic factors,” said Mwang’onda.
One of the participants in the training programme, Patricia Kamanga, praised Mwang’onda for his initiative.
“Bishop Agabus is wise and visionary, most women will now be self-reliant. Manufacturing soap and body lotion is something no one here has ever dreamed about,” said Kamanga.
The training programme is expected to take 12 months to complete. After the women have completed the training, they will be able to start their own soap and body lotion businesses.
Mwang’onda denied that the training programme is a way for him to launch a political career. He said that he is simply trying to help women improve their lives.
“This is not about politics, this is about helping women,” said Mwang’onda.
The training programme is in line with Malawi Vision 2063 and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) on poverty eradication.
The SDGs call for the empowerment of women and the promotion of gender equality.