Concerned Youth Organization trains women and girls in skills development

Concerned Youth Organization (CYO), a local non-governmental organization, has embarked on an ambitious project that aims at equipping women and girls in Mchinji with skills to enable them to actively participate in economic activities, thereby contributing to national development.

CYO has secured K38 million financial support from the Commonwealth of Learning (COL), which it intends to use for training women and girls in skills development programmes in the district.

The organization’s Executive Director, Harvey Chimaliro, told Nyasa Times in an interview that his organization recognizes the existence of various social inequalities affecting women and girls that need to be holistically addressed by, among other things, empowering women with skills to overcome their day-to-day challenges.

“We target to train 780 women and girls in ICT skills, tailoring, shoemaking, as well as sausage and peanut butter making. We are happy with the progress the project is registering, and we hope to make a positive impact on the lives of women, girls, and their families,” said Chimaliro.

Charity Kasaika, a project beneficiary from Mtunga Village in Traditional Authority Mduwa in Mchinji, hailed the introduction of the skills development programmes, stressing that they could be a game changer for women in her community.

“We are grateful to COL and CYO. Most of us have not gone far with school; such programs are our only hope to transform our livelihoods,” she remarked.

CYO is implementing a 10-month Girl Inspire/Livelihoods for Women Empowerment Project in Traditional Authorities Zulu, Nyoka, and Mduwa in Mchinji district.

The project is focusing on four key result areas:

• Sustainable agricultural practices

• Skills development programs

• Gender equality

• Access to education

Mchinji is among the districts worst affected by rising cases of school dropouts, child marriages, and other sexual reproductive health-related challenges.