Malawi – Vocational Skills and Business Development for Women

Malawi has a high youth population alongside high poverty levels. Girls and young women are the most vulnerable and disadvantaged due to sexual exploitation, early marriage, and early motherhood. With very limited childcare and a lack of funding or support from their families, these young women are unable to complete higher-level education or training. These obstacles make it very difficult for them to find solid employment or to pursue a career in a trade of their choice.

For this programme, SOS Malawi partners with Young Africa, which provides technical support and guidance for project implementation.

Throughout the three-year project period, 221 young women in the Lilongwe region will receive training in vocational skills, support in business development, and psychosocial support. These young women are selected from groups that have dropped out of school due to extreme poverty, are survivors of sexual abuse and/or have experienced early pregnancies and early marriages. The project aims to enable participants to pursue the education and career they aspire to, and for them to build self-esteem and confidence along the way. To build that confidence and self-esteem, group and individual counselling are also provided in addition to the employment education.

The project begins with interviewing interested applicants who have been identified through community leaders, advertisements on local radio, or through community-based organisations. The young women are trained in cohorts of 60 for six months at a time, attending various workshops and seminars, getting practical experience in business registration, management, and advertising. Upon completing the training, they are provided with start-up tools and equipment for their job of choice.

Overall Goals

• Young women have equal chances and opportunities in the labour market and/or as entrepreneurs.
• 300 young women throughout the three-year project period complete the vocational, life and entrepreneurial skills training
• 225 girls and young women, as a result, find paid work as employees or entrepreneurs
• The programme can be replicated by SOS Children’s Villages Malawi in more regions.
• SOS Children’s Villages Malawi gain specific knowledge and experience on challenges in gender issues and how to combat them, and can share that with relevant stakeholders in Malawi in the future

Photo: Paal Audestad