By Dyson Mthawanji
Malawi's Minister of Gender, Children, Disability, and Social Welfare Mary Thom Navicha has hailed the Community Learning Centres, describing them as key for economic and community development.
The minister said this on Tuesday during her visit to the Milliot CLC in Mchinji district.
CLCs are local, community-based spaces where people of different ages can access skills training. During her familiarization tour, Navicha appreciated different trades that are offered at Milliot CLC. The minister interacted with the trainees, encouraging them to work hard so that they can achieve financial independence after graduation by earning a living through the acquired skills.
DVV International in collaboration with the National Centre for Adult Literacy and Education is implementing the CLCs in Mchinji, Dowa, Ntchisi, Ntcheu and Nkhata Bay. Plans are under way to expand the programme to more new districts. Some of the trades that are offered at these CLCs are tailoring, blick laying, solar installation, motorcycle repairing and cosmetology.
Navicha said: “The knowledge that is acquired from CLCs reduces the culture of dependence. The skills also contribute to women empowerment. The CLCs are key for national development.”
She added that equipping adult literacy learners with vocational skills remains key to fight poverty and gender-based violence in the country.
Navicha said that hands-on training in cosmetology, solar installation, bricklaying, and tailoring, among others, strengthens human capital development as envisioned in Malawi 2063.
The minister’s familiaration tour was also graced by German Embassy Deputy Head of Cooperation at German Embassy, Susanne Meltl.
DVV International Regional Director for Southern Africa Dr. Johann Heilmann said the organization will continue with investment in lifelong learning and encouraged people to keep learning as per ‘Kuphunzira Sikumatha’ campaign. He thanked German government for the support for Adult Learning and Education in Malawi.
CLCs have enabled people who had no access to formal education to acquire skills and become active citizens. For example, Ellen Kangulu of Miliot Village under Traditional Authority Mkanda said that after failing to access formal education, she is now able to generate income through vocational skills gained through the Milliot CLC.