Patrick Layison’s life in Njemo Village, under Traditional Authority Kabudula in Lilongwe, faced hardships early on, with his father’s demise shortly after his birth.
Raised by a single mother juggling care for ailing sisters, Patrick had to abandon school at age 13.
With his mother preoccupied, his grandmother became his caretaker, but familial responsibilities and limited educational opportunities clouded Patrick’s aspirations.
He reflects, “I faced challenging circumstances in my life, I made the difficult decision to drop out of school in standard 6 and take on responsibilities at home.”
In Malawi, young people constitute the largest and most rapidly expanding segment of the population, comprising 51% according to the 2018 Population and Housing census.
Despite this demographic prominence, there exist significant disparities in access to employable skills training, with substantial gaps prevailing.
The country currently grapples with a concerning statistic, as 32.9% of its youth fall into the category of Not in Employment, Training, or Education (NEET).
Recognizing the difficulties faced by young people like Patrick, COMSIP Cooperative Union Limited has taken on the Youth Skills Challenge Support Program.
Through the program, COMSIP is providing training to out-of-school youths, particularly those affiliated with COMSIP groups, under the Social Support for Resilient Livelihoods.
Patrick, 33, a member of Ndife Amodzi Club from Kakhokho cluster, enrolled in electrical installation, maintenance, and repair training.
He believes that the skills he acquired will contribute to achieving rural electrification in his area, thereby not only benefiting the community but also providing him with an opportunity to earn income through the application of his newfound expertise.
Under this initiative, qualifying young individuals enrolled in the Social Cash Transfer (SCT) or Climate Smart Enhanced Public Works Program (CS-EPWP), and affiliated with COMSIP groups or whose guardians belong to COMSIP groups within the framework of SSRLP, undergo vocational skills training.
The training sessions are led by Technical, Entrepreneurial, and Vocational Education and Training (TEVET) Authority TEVETA-certified craftsmen from the communities where these youths reside.
According to Christina Josiah, COMSIP District coordinator for Kasungu “the program focuses on imparting vocational skills to individuals like Patrick, aiming to equip them with the tools they need to break free from the shackles of poverty”.
She added that “this effort seeks to empower these young individuals by offering them opportunities for skill development and the chance to build a more sustainable and resilient livelihood”.
Naomi Zawanda, aged 26 from Msulira Cluster in Traditional Authority Chilowamatambe, Kasungu, is another beneficiary of the program.
She chose carpentry and joinery, aspiring to become a role model in her community.
Naomi has acquired her skills through a certified TEVETA craftsman, showcasing the positive impact of the project on empowering individuals like her to pursue meaningful and valuable career paths.
“I’m delighted to share that I aimed to be the first girl in our village to become a carpenter, and thanks to the skills I’ve acquired, I’ve already begun receiving business from people. Witnessing the positive changes in my life, I can see our household gradually overcoming poverty through income that I will be earning from this skill”.
Traditional Authority Chilowamatambe of Kasungu District praised the skills imparted on the youths, stating that it will bring about a transformation in the socio-economic profile of the community.
“As I speak, the families of these young individuals have been established to achieve economic self-reliance” said Chilowamatambe.
Upon finishing the skills training, the youths have been supported with start-up tools and financial linkages where they get support for loans to kick-start their businesses.
Those receiving start-up tools are securing loans, averaging 300,000 Kwacha from COMSIV Limited, a financial subsidiary of COMSIP Cooperative Union Limited, to establish their businesses.
They are also signing community bonds to ensure their operations benefit and remain rooted within their communities.
Meanwhile, Tennyson Gondwe, the Chief Executive Officer at COMSIP Cooperative Union, reports that the initial trained group comprises 721 youths from Chiradzulu, Blantyre, Phalombe, Balaka, Dedza, Lilongwe, Dowa, Ntchisi, Kasungu, Nkhotakota, Nkhatabay, Karonga, Rumphi, and Chitipa.
“In the 14 districts, we’ve allocated K192 million for the tools, and when factoring in capacity building and training, the total investment is approximately K250 million kwacha said Gondwe.
The upcoming second cohort, which is set to commence training in February, aims to reach 1,789 participants.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Youth and Sports, Uchizi Mkandawire, emphasizes the significance of providing start-up tools and facilitating access to financial resources in initiatives aimed at empowering young people economically.
Mkandawire points out that numerous youth economic empowerment initiatives tend to focus on providing technical and entrepreneurial skills, overlooking equally vital elements essential for sustainable enterprise development.
“Our priority as government is youth economic empowerment and what is happening with COMSIP is indeed in line with the government policy for the youth” said Mkandawire.
The youths have acquired skills in cosmetology, tailoring, tin-smithing, building, plumbing, carpentry, welding, among others.
By the conclusion of the Social Support for Resilient Livelihoods Program in 2027, COMSIP aims to have trained 4,300 youths through this initiative.
Patrick Layison and Naomi Zawanda, emerging from challenging backgrounds, have experienced transformative changes in their lives through the acquisition of skills, start-up tools, and support for loans to kick-start their businesses.
Along with other graduates, they have committed to a two-year community bond, choosing to operate their businesses within the community before considering relocation for broader business opportunities, all while pledging to reinvest in their local community.
The Social Support for Resilient Livelihoods Project (SSRLP) is a Malawi government initiative financed by the World Bank and the Social Protection Multi-Donor Trust Fund.
The Livelihoods Support Program implemented by COMSIP under the SSRLP aims to reach a total of 590,000 beneficiaries, including 64,000 under the Social Cash Transfer (SCT) and 471,000 under the Climate Smart Enhanced Public Works Program (CS-EPWP).
