RED project to the Rescue of Mayaka Village

High poverty rates continue to affect youth’s access to education in Zomba, threatening their sense of independence and future. Nevertheless, the youth hailing from Mayaka village have tremendously benefitted from Resilience Economic Development (RED) Project, implemented by Save the Children, aimed at among others, empowering the youths with different sets of skills. Currently the youth in the area are learning how to become fashion designers, phone technicians and motor cycle repairers.

The Youth Network Chair, Patrick Saukila, said that youths in Mayaka village are at risk of indulging themselves into risky behaviors since a majority of them are school dropouts. RED Project however has reduced that risk by introducing short courses that aim at empowering the youth with different skills.

“Before this project, the youth in my area were idle and lacked any kind of skill to sustain themselves. This forced most youths into early pregnancies and child marriages while others abused alcohol and drugs.”

Saukila also said that in a very short time, the youth in his area have been significantly equipped with different skills such that some of them are now able to fend for themselves through the skills they have acquired.

“We are happy because the tendency of promiscuity amongst the youth in search for money has immensely decreased since everyone is able to do pieces of work and earn a little something from it.” Youth Network Chairperson concluded.

Passover Ngwala, a beneficiary in the RED project thanked this project saying it has led to her independence financially.

“After falling pregnant at 18 years old, I thought all hope was lost until I stumbled upon Save the Children through RED project. I have undergone all necessary trainings through this project and I am able to fix a motor cycle on my own. Being a young girl, a lot of people thought I had chosen an impossible course for myself but I pose as an example in my area today.”

The course trainer Mr Chatrees Chitedze who is also a mechanic hails Save the Children for such an initiative saying that he sees more youths prospering in the area.

He said, “RED project is helping a lot of young girls and boys in this area. My students are very attentive and they concentrate during lessons. If they continue with this trend, I see them succeeding and becoming self-reliant.”

Mayaka Village is one of the targeted areas in RED project funded by Save the Children Italy and the project is being implemented by Save the Children Malawi.