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| Thyolo youth initiative produces two professionals |
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by
Oris Chimenya, 25 January 2007
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07:23:13
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To some youngsters, participating in youth activities is a waste of time and unprofitable. But, ask two ladies in Thyolo—who were active members of a youth initiative—they will tell you that their participation in various youth activities marked a turning point in their respective careers.
This is the story of two young women—Yanjanani Yekela and Agnes Chakhoma. The two are qualified mechanic and accountant, respectively, and are both members of the Thyolo Active Youth Organisation (Tayo).
Yekela and Chakhoma were paraded as testimony of Tayo’s success during a tour by Sports, Youth and Culture Minister Jaffalie Mussa of the district last Friday.
The minister also toured other youth clubs in the district: Thyolo Youth Centre, Goliati Youth Club and Luchenza Youth Organisation.
Yekela said she joined Tayo in 2002 and the following year she was nominated to study motor vehicle mechanics at Soche Technical College in Blantyre where she wrote and passed Trade Test Grade 3 examinations.
“I am now a happy person because I maintain vehicles and I also drive cars. But my desire is to upgrade my studies and sit for Trade Test Grade 2 and later, Grade 1,” the 24-year-old told Mussa in her brief speech.
Her colleague, Chakhoma, who also joined Tayo in 2002, also encouraged the youth not to undermine youth initiatives.
“I got an opportunity to go for studies in accountancy and I studied for a Certificate in Financial Accounting in 2005. Currently, I am working as an accounts assistant at Medicines Sans Frontiers. I owe this to Tayo,” said Chakhoma.
She told the minister she is looking for an opportunity to further her studies.
In his speech, Tayo director Willard Mwambo said youth in the district are willing to take part in the HIV and Aids fight but they lack resources such as vehicles for youth programme officers to reach to very remote areas where accessibility is very difficult due to poor road network.
In response, Mussa said eight vehicles have already been donated to his ministry and plans are under way to allocate the vehicles to every district sports officer for easy access to remote area.
“But I would like to congratulate these young ladies for their hard-working spirit and for grabbing an opportunity. Girls should not be rushing for marriages because it is not a solution to your problems,” said Mussa.
Another youth at Goliyati Youth Club, Edith Kumbani, a qualified carpenter, urged the minister to help her get a bigger piece of land where she would construct a bigger workshop for her business.
But Mussa urged Kumbani to form a group with other young entrepreneurs in the area and apply for loans from the Malawi Rural Development Fund (Mardef).
“You should try and get the Mardef loans. They are there for you. I have already instructed the Thyolo District Youth Officer [Mr.] Ernest Kaphuka to make sure that he provides forms to you and I am sure if he can provide 10 forms, then 100 youth would benefit,” said the minister.
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