Malawi: Francis Mkonda Foundation is providing free vocational skill training to the less privileged youths in Machinjiri. The aim of the initiative is to make sure that the youngsters can work towards making their economic condition better.
FM Foundation started free training sessions with two courses namely; electrical installation plus dish installation. With these trainings, the members of the community sought to target the less privileged youths within Blantyre and surrounding areas.
The organization which was founded by Mighty Mukuru Wanderers’ player, Francis Mkonda is based in Blantyre, Machinjiri Area 5. Chief Executive Officer for FM Foundation, and Founder, Mkonda noted that they are already assisting the elderly and orphans with basic needs.
However, the foundation thought of introducing programmes to address issues of unemployment among the youths. Accordingly, they thought of introducing these free vocational skill trainings.
“We have been assisting the elderly and orphans with basic needs and we noticed that there are a lot of young people who are just staying at home. This is why we came up with the free trainings to give them something to do,” he said.
Mkonda added that the foundation is planning to start its own electrical installation company. The company will further provide employment to the graduates from FM Foundation vocational courses.
“But as of now, we have partnered with other local companies that will be offering job opportunities to our students. After successfully completing the trainings, we will be sending them to work in residential places and companies that we have partnered with,” he said.
Blantyre District Youth Officer, Peter Mizedya applauded FM Foundation for the initiative. He expressed that he found it significant that a youth has taken centre stage in finding solutions to problems which fellow youths were facing.
“It is important for young people to learn vocational skills for them to be employed or to start their own businesses and employ other youths to reduce unemployment rate,” he said.
Mizedya added that Blantyre Youth Office gives the youths guidance on what to do after the trainings and that his office also connects them to institutions that give loans to youth groups.
“We urge them to form cooperatives so that they can run their own businesses as a group and we give direction on how to manage the cooperatives,” he said.
However, he advised youth organisations that teaches vocational skills to consider working with Teveta to be accredited.
The first cohort of students to enroll with Francis Mkonda Foundation for skills programme started classes in January this year and are currently in progress.