Old Mutual, Sanwecka Partner to Empower Malawi Youth with Tech Skills
LILONGWE, Malawi—In the dusty streets of Mtandire and Mtsiliza, where poverty often eclipses hope, 35 unemployed youth are about to plug into opportunity. Armed with a K10 million donation from financial giant Old Mutual, local tech upstart Sanwecka Tech Champions is set to rewire these young Malawians' futures, transforming them from job-seekers to tech-savvy entrepreneurs, writes Winston Mwale.
This collaboration aims to equip unemployed youth with valuable technological skills, potentially lifting them out of poverty and contributing to Malawi's economic growth.
On Friday, representatives from Old Mutual, Sanwecka, the Technical, Entrepreneurial, and Vocational Education and Training Authority (TEVETA), and the Lilongwe City Council gathered to officially launch the program.
The air was thick with anticipation as the young beneficiaries, mostly from the Mtandire and Msiliza areas, listened intently to speeches that promised to change their futures.
Patience Chatsika, Marketing and Corporate Affairs Executive at Old Mutual, stood before the crowd, her voice filled with enthusiasm.
"It gives me much pleasure to see our partnership with Sanweka going from strength to strength," she said.
"Under this partnership, 73 young people have been trained in Lilongwe and Blantyre. And at the end of the training we commenced this week, 103 people will benefit from this initiative."
Chatsika delved deeper into the program's scope, emphasizing its practical approach.
"We are proud to see young people empowered with various skills, including cell phone repairs, home gadget repair, and satellite dish installation," she explained.
"In addition, these people are provided with startup equipment so that they can start their businesses and be able to support themselves."
The Old Mutual executive didn't shy away from addressing the pressing issue of unemployment.
"As businesses, we are highly concerned with the current pattern of unemployment," Chatsika stated.
"And we believe that equipping young people with these skills will go a long way in improving this sector."
Chatsika then linked the initiative to Malawi's broader development goals.
"The Malawi2063 emphasizes human capital development as one of the pillars to enable economic development," she noted.
"Therefore, we believe that investing in young people is crucial in transforming our country."
Old Mutual's commitment to this cause is substantial. Chatsika revealed that the company has invested over K70 million in various youth empowerment programs across the country.
"This investment speaks volumes of our commitment to significantly contribute to the attainment of the long-term development goals in Malawi2063," she affirmed.
Rasheed Kasito, CEO of Sanweka Tech Champions, took the podium next, his words painting a picture of a partnership that has grown steadily over the years.
"This journey started some 3 years back in 2022," he recounted.
"We trained 35 beneficiaries from Lilongwe, and that was a K5 million sponsorship. And in 2023, we added some power to it. Old Mutual sponsored us with K7.5 million, and we impacted 45 youths in Lilongwe."
Kasito's excitement was palpable as he described Sanweka's mission.
"Our mission is to empower young people, especially those who cannot afford formal education due to financial challenges," he explained.
The organization has a track record to be proud of, having used its methodology to train over 50,000 Malawians.
He emphasized the comprehensive nature of their training approach.
"We strive to provide skills pieces of training, mostly integrated courses," Kasito said.
"We can guarantee you that by the end of the 4 weeks of training, these young boys and girls will never be the same. We have used our methodology with over 50,000 Malawians, we trust the process."
Kasito also highlighted the importance of post-training support.
"The sponsorship also includes free startup tools and you will get startup toolkits at the end of the training," he told the trainees.
"So that they can assist you to easily venture into businesses as you go back after the training."
Komani Tembo, Training Programs Specialist for the Informal Sector at TEVETA, addressed the gathering with words of encouragement and a touch of humour.
His speech provided valuable context on the importance of vocational training in Malawi's development landscape.
"We believe that this skill development for you will take you through a journey that will transform yourself," Tembo said.
"That one day you come out of your parent's home, go in a rented house, and start doing yours and be someone better shortly."
Tembo's speech highlighted the tangible impact of such programs.
"Some few months ago, we were graduating a team of over 200 young men and women at Nkoma and Lilongwe here, who had undergone training in carpentry, joinery, tailoring, fabrication, and motorcycle and other training," he recalled.
"Some of those young men and women today, have their shops. A job has been created for them through Sanwecka."
His words to the trainees were both motivational and cautionary: "There are many others out there waiting for this opportunity, but this opportunity has come on you as a person. We are saying 35, but in vocational skills, don't count numbers 35, but count you as a person to get the skill."
Tembo also explained TEVETA's role in the vocational training landscape. "Our role at TEVETA is to regulate, promote, and facilitate the provision of vocational skills in Malawi," he stated.
"We make sure that those that are undergoing vocational skills training get the required skills for self-employment. And Sanweka has just demonstrated that over the years."
He concluded with a call to action for the trainees: "Once again, kindly take this opportunity seriously and get trained. Work hand in hand with Sanweka to get you possibly certified. Once you are certified, you also register your business. That is how global businesses grow."
The Lilongwe City Council, represented by Geoffrey Kalemba, also expressed gratitude for the initiative.
"We don't take your support for granted," Kalemba said, addressing Old Mutual.
"It's a support that is going to help our youth in the city to have something to do."
The official drew connections between the program and Malawi2063, specifically referencing the plan's second pillar, which focuses on education and skills development.
"These 35 youth who have been selected and other youth from other regions are going to support the achievement of Vision 2063 of Malawi," Kalemba stated.
The City Council representative also highlighted the potential social benefits of the program.
"When these youth engage themselves in these skills to repair phones, to repair electronics, they will be able to be busy, and that is going to help them to learn away from bad behaviour like gambling, smoking, and other issues," Kalemba noted.
However, amid the optimism, there was also a call for more support.
The official urged other partners to come forward and support similar initiatives, acknowledging the limitations of government resources.
"We cannot achieve training our youth alone," the official admitted.
"We would like to ask more partners to come and join us in training our youth so that we should be able to create jobs."
But perhaps the most moving moment came when one of the trainees, 22-year-old Gerard Kasinja, shared his thoughts on the opportunity.
"I'm so very happy because of this training," he said, his eyes bright with hope.
"We were just staying at home sometimes, but because of this training, we will learn something that will make me a man."
Kasinja's words underscored the harsh reality faced by many young Malawians. In a country where youth unemployment is a pressing issue, opportunities like this can be life-changing.
"This is like a source of money, a source of income," Kasinja explained. "When we are doing them, we can change our family, we can change our lives."
He expressed gratitude to the sponsors and organizers: "Firstly, I just want to thank Old Mutual for the support, for the opportunity to at least make us learn and train something that can help us in the future. Because of the level of unemployment here in Malawi, this opportunity will help us to find sources of income in our families, even in our communities."
As the event came to a close, the excitement among the trainees was palpable. For young people like Gerard Kasinja, this program represents more than just a training opportunity.
It's a chance to rewrite their stories, to move from "dormant" to active participants in Malawi's economy.
"From this training, I think I can be able to have a job, which is self-employment," Kasinja said, his voice full of determination.
"So that I can help myself."
In a country where youth unemployment remains a significant challenge, initiatives like this partnership between Old Mutual and Sanwecka offer a glimmer of hope.
They demonstrate that with the right skills and support, young people can become drivers of economic growth and social change.
As Malawi continues its journey towards the ambitious goals set out in Vision 2063, programs like this will play a crucial role.
They not only provide immediate relief to unemployed youth but also contribute to building the skilled workforce that Malawi needs for its long-term development.
The success of these 35 young people could inspire more such initiatives, creating a ripple effect that could transform communities across Lilongwe and beyond.
As they embark on their four-week journey of learning and discovery, they carry with them not just their hopes and dreams, but the aspirations of a nation looking to its youth to build a brighter future.