Traditionally, adult literacy has been defined as the ability to read and write. However, this feature explores how literacy in Malawi is evolving to include practical, functional skills that transform lives.
Our reporter, Georgia Mbaghugho Chirombo, follows the journeys of six young learners across Blantyre, Machinga, Dedza, Salima and Mzimba, acquiring skills that extend far beyond books under the Ntchito Mbambande Project.
Among them are Shylene Mphokonyola in welding, Mable Grem in digital literacy, Samson Mpotolo in agriculture, and Slyvia Kagwada in bicycle repair. Their stories reveal a broader understanding of literacy as they master functional skills that are reshaping their lives.
These young people are not only building independence and employable skills, but also challenging traditional gender norms, with girls excelling in fields historically dominated by men. Yet financial barriers remain a major challenge, limiting their ability to start businesses and fully apply their skills.
The feature, titled “Redefining Literacy: Beyond Reading and Writing, Malawi’s Youth Build Skills and Challenge Traditions,” showcases how practical skills are redefining literacy as a combination of technical, digital, agricultural, and mechanical knowledge—helping young Malawians break barriers, contribute to their communities, and shape brighter futures.
In the outskirts of Machinjiri Township in Blantyre, sparks fly as young people are introduced to the world of welding.
Among them is 22-year-old Shylene Mphokonyola – determined to succeed in a field often dominated by men.
Right before this, her life revolved around piecework: washing clothes, clearing yards, doing dishes – anything to get by.
Today, the sparks in front of her mean more than metal being cut and joined, they signal a new beginning – a path to independence built on skills that can last a lifetime.
“My life was not stable, I used to move from one city to the other, from Lilongwe, Blantyre and Mzuzu searching for piece jobs but now I have something to do. I can make doors and glasses, my dream is to open my own workshop to achieve financial independence and teach other the skills I’ve gained,“she said.
But Shylene’s story isn’t unique. A few kilometers away, at Comboni Technical College in Lunzu, other young women are taking similar bold steps, one of them being Mable Grem – a school dropout from Machinga, now daring to try welding as her second chance in life.
“This training is very important especially for girls like myself who dropped out of school at the village. It gives me a second chance to change my life and find something to do to earn an income. Am positive that once I go back home I will help my friends learn my field of work,” Grem said.
On face value, these may seem like ordinary skills training programs. But wait a-minute, They aren’t; they point to something deeper; the growing importance of adult literacy, not just as the ability to read and write, but as the ability to understand, interpret, and apply knowledge in real-life situations.
In welding, this means reading measurements, following instructions, handling tools safely, and solving practical problems.
It’s this kind of functional literacy that is transforming lives a case being pursued by Dyson Mthawanji, communications officer for DVV International.
He says literacy must go beyond the classroom to include practical skills that prepare young people for real-world opportunities.
“For a long time participants in adult literacy classes have been acquiring literacy and numeracy skills, but the coming in of integrated adult learning education is to allow participants to have other opportunities and acquire skills in sectors such as modern agriculture, environmental management, water sanitation and hygiene, because we don’t want them to keep the acquired knowledge but apply it in their everyday life, “Mthawanji said.
And this is shaping programs like the Ntchito Mbambande Project being implemented by Care Malawi with support from the European Union.
Already the initiative has equipped over 5,300 vulnerable young people across the country with skills in mechanical work, agriculture, and digital technology.
Arguably, the need is crystal clear, given data from the National Statistics Office portraying about 21.6 percent of young people aged 15 to 35 are unemployed.
Yet on the other hand; Afrobarometer surveys suggest the situation may be even worse, with more than half of young Malawians actively looking for work.
No wonder at Comboni Technical College, Charles Jaluwa, head of the Fabrication and Welding Department, says the focus is on practical skills that can lead to self-employment.
“We are training students from five districts; Blantyre, Machinga, Dedza, Salima and Mzimba, our goal is to train 350 students. They are being taught using a special curriculum designed for this project with advanced modules, the goal is to ensure they get opportunities in the industry and apply these advanced skills “Jaluwa said.
While some are shaping metal in workshops, others are building futures behind computer screens, a case of a training centre in Makata, Blantyre, where digital literacy is opening new possibilities.
Here, computers are not just machines – they are tools for understanding and navigating an increasingly technology-driven world.
For Samuel Liwonde, from Traditional Authority Makata, the training has introduced him to skills such as installing software, setting up computers and networks, and even web development.
“We have learnt how to install application systems set up a computer, developing, websites and entrepreneurship, so this will help me to either get a job or start my own business. The world is now embracing digital technologies, I believe the skills gained are essential for me to do well in the current market dynamics, I hope that I manage to find resources to start my own business,” Liwonde explained.
Priscilla Sungani, from Namwalisiyo Village, believes these digital skills can help young people break cycles of poverty and limited opportunity.
“I hope that when I finish learning, I can start my own business and apply the skills to help my family and myself afford basic needs,” she said.
With 61 percent of young Malawians preferring self-employment, according to Afrobarometer, ICT trainer Felix Sindima says the program is designed to nurture entrepreneurship … however, as expected, he notes challenges remain.
For instance, he notes, some community members still do not fully appreciate the value of digital skills – often expecting immediate results and overlooking long-term benefits.
“The overall progress is satisfactory. My hope is that after acquiring the skills, these young people get jobs, or even start their own businesses. However, some students dropped out because they had to walk long distances to get to the learning centre and some their reasons were not clear,” Sindima said.
Beyond workshops and computer labs, the program is also taking root in the fields. Here, agricultural literacy is helping young people turn farming into a more informed and sustainable livelihood.
In Zemba Section, under Chipande Extension Planning Area in Machinjiri, youth groups are learning modern farming techniques through demonstration plots.
Different crop varieties – including soya beans and groundnuts – are planted side by side, allowing learners to compare performance before scaling up production.
Samson Mpotolo, a student farmer and chairperson of the group, says the training has strengthened both his knowledge and confidence.
“We are learning modern farming techniques through demonstration plots to ensure we choose the best crop to maximize production. This is inspiring considering I want to venture into agri-business, I am confident that this experience has prepared me enough to transform my life”. Mpotola said.
Echoing this is Samson Nakhwala, a public service agriculturist who describes the initiative as a game changer in empowering young people to contribute meaningfully to national development.
Elsewhere, in small garages, another form of literacy is taking shape. Through bicycle repair training, young people are learning how to diagnose faults, follow technical instructions, and solve mechanical problems.
For girls, this is also about breaking barriers – entering spaces traditionally reserved for men, a gloomy past being shared by Slyvia Kagwada.
“At first I used to struggle to get basic needs but now am hopeful that after the training, I will be an economically independent woman. I started learning how to repair buffalo bicycles in January and everything is going on well and am hopeful of a bright future,” Kagwada said.
Trainer Amon Pempha says such practical skills are helping both girls and boys move closer to sustainable livelihoods.
Across workshops, farms, garages, and computer labs, one goal stands out – equipping young people with functional literacy that translates into opportunity.
Yet the challenge remains significant. Labor market estimates indicate that around 270,000 young people enter Malawi’s job market every year, while only 30,000 to 40,000 formal jobs are created.
On his part, Peter Mizedya, district youth officer for Blantyre says this gap highlights the urgent need for practical skills development.
Across the country, young people like Shylene and Mable are redefining what it means to be literate.
Some cycles believe, literacy can no longer just be about reading and writing – but about applying knowledge, solving problems, and creating opportunities.
Youths Redefining Literacy through mechanical, technical and agriculture skills.
Well, for Mable Grem, the goal is clear. She dreams of returning home to Machinga and opening her own welding workshop – turning her skills into a business.
But like many others, she faces a major obstacle: access to capital, thus she’s now appealing to stakeholders to support young people with funding, so they can turn skills into real opportunities.
This story reflects a broader reality. Empowering young people requires more than training – it calls for coordinated support, investment, and belief in their potential.
Because today, literacy is no longer confined to books. It’s digital, It’s mechanical, It’s agricultural, and for many young Malawians it’s the key to transforming lives.