Skills Development Initiative Empowers Women and Girls in Malawi
The project, which commenced in late 2019, has provided technical and financial support totaling K21 million.
LILONGWE, MALAWI - An initiative led by the Concerned Youth Organisation-CYO, in collaboration with local shoe designer Chimwemwe Mwenyemasi, is making a significant impact on the livelihoods of women and girls while contributing to the fight against gender-based violence and other vulnerabilities in Malawi, writes Howard Mlozi.
The project, known as "Lifelong Learning for Mothers and Out of School Girls," was implemented by CYO in Mchinji district with the support of the Commonwealth of Learning (COL).
The project, which commenced in late 2019, has provided technical and financial support totaling K21 million.
The key objective of the project was to empower women and girls with income-generating skills, ultimately reducing economic hardships and the risks of abuse.
Under the project, 125 girls and 100 women were trained in shoe-making and tailoring, while an additional 116 individuals were trained in sausage-making. Beneficiaries were selected from five Traditional Authorities: Dambe, Zulu, Mkanda, Nyoka, and M'duwa.
Three years since its inception, the project has brought about tangible changes in the lives of its beneficiaries. Georgina Gama, one of the project's beneficiaries, attested to the transformation it has facilitated. She now operates her own shoe-making business in the Nyoka Traditional Authority area.
Gama shared, "After the training, the project provided me with start-up tools, enabling me to start my own business. This made me an economically independent woman today. This is unlike the past when I relied on family members for support."
Notably, the skills imparted to Gama and others have set them apart in their communities.
She explained that engaging in shoe-making, a field traditionally dominated by men, has earned her respect and admiration from her neighbors.
Georgina emphasized the positive impact of skills development, highlighting the connection between gender inequalities, poverty, and the vulnerability of women and girls to sexual exploitation, including prostitution.
With newfound skills and business opportunities, many women are now actively involved in endeavors like shoe-making and sales.
Harvey Chimaliro, the Executive Director of CYO, explained the project's long-term goal of fostering gender equality by addressing gender disparities.
He stated, "The goal of the project was to equip women and girls with income-generating skills to ensure that they are extricated from economic hardships and abuse."
Chimaliro emphasized the remarkable impact of the project, with many women and girls achieving economic independence through income generation.
Chimwemwe Mwenyemasi, the award-winning Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) recipient of the 2016 Innovation Award, conducted a 30-day shoe-making training program for the project beneficiaries.
He utilized locally available materials and provided start-up equipment.
Mwenyemasi expressed his satisfaction with the project's success, highlighting the need for ongoing training to keep the beneficiaries updated with industry trends.
The project's proponents are advocating for increased investments in community-led solutions aimed at improving the livelihoods of vulnerable rural populations, particularly women and girls.
Such efforts are seen as vital in alleviating economic hardships and reducing vulnerability to violence.