Empowering youth, eradicating child labour: ACCEL Africa's impact in Malawi
Through the project’s efforts, 282 youths, comprising 193 boys and 89 girls, graduated from various vocational skills trades in January 2023. These trades include motorcycle mechanics, tailoring and designing, bricklaying, carpentry, and joinery, as well as welding and fabrication.
27 March 2024
Ntchisi District, Malawi, March 25th, 2024 - With financial support from the government of the Netherlands, the ACCEL Africa project makes significant strides in empowering youth within the tea and coffee supply chains across multiple districts in Malawi, including Mulanje, Thyolo, Chitipa, Mzimba, and Ntchisi. Through the project’s efforts, 282 youths, comprising 193 boys and 89 girls, graduated from various vocational skills trades in January 2023. These trades include motorcycle mechanics, tailoring and designing, bricklaying, carpentry, and joinery, as well as welding and fabrication.
To assist youth in moving towards sustainable economic opportunities and to fight against child labour, ACCEL Africa initiated the distribution of startup toolkits. These kits target youth trained through the project interventions, who were at risk of child labour and aim to support their transition to sustainable enterprise creation or decent employment opportunities.
This initiative goes beyond just supplying the necessary tools for graduates to thrive in their chosen fields; it also plays a crucial role in combatting child labour by presenting the youth with feasible alternatives and opportunities. The project's goal is to nurture economic independence and self-reliance among the young participants, while also tackling the underlying issues of child labour in these supply chains, by providing them with the essential resources they need.
The inaugural distribution event for the startup toolkits was held in Ntchisi District on March 25th, 2024, symbolizing a key step forward in empowering the youth and fighting child labour within the community. The event saw the participation of distinguished guests, including high level officials from the Ministry of Labour, the TEVETA regional director, the Impact Center for Economic Empowerment and Development, Traditional Authority Vuso Jere, Bowe Youth and Vocational Skills College, along with the ILO.
The Regional Labour Officer, serving as the guest of honour, delivered an impactful speech highlighting the critical role of the toolkits in fostering sustainable economic ventures for the young individuals, thereby aiding in the elimination of child labour in the locales. He also extended his appreciation to the ILO for their backing in tackling child labour via initiatives focused on the economic empowerment of the youth.
Furthermore, in his speech, the Regional Labour Officer called upon the young beneficiaries to lead the charge against child labour, underlining their essential role in instigating positive transformations within their communities. He motivated them to leverage their new tools and capabilities to spearhead efforts against child labour, paving the way for a more promising future for themselves and subsequent generations.
By equipping these graduates with the means to secure sustainable livelihoods, the project not only combats the immediate threat of child labour but also lays the groundwork for a future where every child can pursue education and employment free from exploitation. This holistic approach, rooted in empowerment and sustainable development, offers a beacon of hope and a replicable model for communities worldwide striving to break the cycle of child labour and poverty.
To assist youth in moving towards sustainable economic opportunities and to fight against child labour, ACCEL Africa initiated the distribution of startup toolkits. These kits target youth trained through the project interventions, who were at risk of child labour and aim to support their transition to sustainable enterprise creation or decent employment opportunities.
This initiative goes beyond just supplying the necessary tools for graduates to thrive in their chosen fields; it also plays a crucial role in combatting child labour by presenting the youth with feasible alternatives and opportunities. The project's goal is to nurture economic independence and self-reliance among the young participants, while also tackling the underlying issues of child labour in these supply chains, by providing them with the essential resources they need.
The inaugural distribution event for the startup toolkits was held in Ntchisi District on March 25th, 2024, symbolizing a key step forward in empowering the youth and fighting child labour within the community. The event saw the participation of distinguished guests, including high level officials from the Ministry of Labour, the TEVETA regional director, the Impact Center for Economic Empowerment and Development, Traditional Authority Vuso Jere, Bowe Youth and Vocational Skills College, along with the ILO.
The Regional Labour Officer, serving as the guest of honour, delivered an impactful speech highlighting the critical role of the toolkits in fostering sustainable economic ventures for the young individuals, thereby aiding in the elimination of child labour in the locales. He also extended his appreciation to the ILO for their backing in tackling child labour via initiatives focused on the economic empowerment of the youth.
Furthermore, in his speech, the Regional Labour Officer called upon the young beneficiaries to lead the charge against child labour, underlining their essential role in instigating positive transformations within their communities. He motivated them to leverage their new tools and capabilities to spearhead efforts against child labour, paving the way for a more promising future for themselves and subsequent generations.
By equipping these graduates with the means to secure sustainable livelihoods, the project not only combats the immediate threat of child labour but also lays the groundwork for a future where every child can pursue education and employment free from exploitation. This holistic approach, rooted in empowerment and sustainable development, offers a beacon of hope and a replicable model for communities worldwide striving to break the cycle of child labour and poverty.