Tailoring School Offers Lifesaving Skills to Fight Youth Immorality
The Eminence Tailoring School has introduced a weekend program to train 25 underprivileged youths in tailoring skills.
Malawi: In an effort to curb youth involvement in harmful activities such as alcohol and substance abuse, a tailoring school in Lilongwe's Area 36 is using its corporate social responsibility to make a difference, writes Benson Kamonjola.
The Eminence Tailoring School has introduced a weekend program to train 25 underprivileged youths in tailoring skills.
Frackshon Pangani, the director of Eminence Tailoring School, stated that the initiative is a way to give back to the community they serve.
He believes that many of the area's youths turn to immoral behaviours, such as theft, and drug and alcohol abuse, due to a lack of entrepreneurial skills.
Pangani is confident that the two-year training program will help fight poverty and reduce youth involvement in such activities.
"Once we have trained these youths, I think they can sustain themselves, which will directly reduce poverty in their families," Pangani said.
He added that joblessness often leads to theft, gender-based violence, and early marriages in Lilongwe.
Sumaya Banda, one of the program's beneficiaries, expressed her gratitude for the opportunity, saying it will improve her life.
She encouraged other young people to embrace vocational skills, saying they have the potential to improve their financial situation.
"I am looking forward to starting my own business once I have finished this training," Banda said.
Group village headman Katantha of Area 36 expressed gratitude to the tailoring school for its initiative, calling it a transformative move for the lives of much less privileged and unemployed youth in the area.
"We have been looking forward to such programs in this area, as you may wish to know that Area 36 township is among the top areas with a high crime rate," he said.
The Centre for Youth and Children Affairs, through its public relations officer Rabson Woodwell, has described vocational skills as the solution to fighting drug and substance abuse among youths.
He encouraged those who would benefit from the program to make the most of this opportunity.
"Youths are becoming addicted to drug and substance abuse due to a lack of such skills, so this is a welcome development," Woodwell said.
The school's director has promised to continue working with the community to improve the lives of young people in the area.