Not Left Behind: Youths Equipped and Empowered To Be Self Reliant.
By Harold Munthali,
World Vision Malawi Lilongwe District Program Manager.
One Franklin D. Roosevelt once said that “The only limit to our realization of tomorrow will be our doubts of today”.
Roosevelt believed that investing in skills and fostering a positive mindset are key to unlocking the potential of youths such as a 30-year-old Soft Chilima of Chitekwere in Lilongwe District.
Just a few years ago, Soft’s days were filled with anxiety. As a father of two, he constantly worried about how he will manage to provide for his family.
"Every morning, I would wake up wondering where my next income would come from," he recalls.
To him, the future was unpredictable with the absence of a proper job or a business.
“In our village, most people depend on farming, but with climate change affecting our crops, even that has become unreliable,” he explains.
That hopelessness began to fade when an opportunity arrived through World Vision Malawi, under the Nkhoma Area Program. Soft was selected to participate in a three-months vocational training program offered through partnership with the Technical, Entrepreneurial and Vocational Education and Training Authority (TEVETA).
He chose to study phone and electronics repair, a skill with growing demand in rural and urban markets alike.
"Out of 20 youths in my cohort learning phone mechanics, 18 of us completed the training and graduated in March 2024. “The training was intense, but I was determined to make it through,” Soft narrates.
After graduation, Soft rented a small shop at Malindi Trading Centre. It didn’t take long for word of mouth regarding his expertise spread.
"Today, I repair phones, radios, television sets, and even computers. I also sell accessories for these devices," he says proudly.
On average Soft earns about MWK 25,000 per day, which adds up to over MWK 750,000 (US$428) per month. This income has significantly transformed her family’s livelihood.
With his business thriving, Soft has also contributed to job creation by employing four youths from his community, who are helping him run his business who demand is growing.
"I know how it feels to be idle and uncertain about the future. This is why I wanted to help others, just as I was helped. My goal now is to register a company and expand even further,” he explains.
Soft’s success story is just one example of the powerful impact of World Vision’s youth vocational skills initiative. Since its inception, the Nkhoma Area Program has trained 214 youths, including 114 Most Vulnerable Children (MVCs) and 68 Registered Children (RCs) in various technical fields. These include: 141 in fashion and design, 22 in electrical installation, 20 in motorcycle repair, 19 in home appliance repair and 12 in bricklaying.
"To my fellow youths, I urge you to never give up. Learn a skill. Your future is brighter than you think," he says with confidence.