Computer Clinic limited conducted a graduation ceremony for the trainees who completed their lessons in digital skills and entrepreneurship under the digital Malawi project.
The ceremony which took place on Friday, August 18th 2023, at Kauma Chitukuko hall was graced by the Deputy Mayor of Lilongwe City, her worship Esther Sagawa, who was the guest of honour.
The digital Malawi project is being implemented by the Public Private Partnership Commission with support from the Malawi Government and sponsorship from the World Bank.
The objective is to provide young people with free computer and entrepreneurial skills that will allow them to start their own firms or find employment in the industry.
The intended target to graduate was 134 digital skills trainees but due to the huge turnout 179 participants have graduated while in entrepreneurship the target was 50 but 56 have graduate where 60% of the participants are women.
Speaking before declaring the giving out of certificates, her worship the deputy Mayor of Lilongwe, Councilor Esther Sagawa thanked Computer Clinic and the Lilongwe City Council for bringing the project to this area. She emphasised that many young people in Kauma lack meaningful activities to engage in after school, which leads to crime, alcoholism, and drug usage.
“I am really appreciative of this effort, which will transform many lives in this area. The youth must be equipped with these talents because the world is going digital and because most of them or their parents cannot afford to enroll in the fees paying institutions,” said Sagawa.
She continued by saying that because she herself works in information and communications technology, she will offer these young people a chance to join her company, where they may continue to learn while still making a career.
In his remarks, Kauma City Centre Councillor Heston Yohane Zybion praised the government and its partners for this significant project, which is being carried out in all the nation’s districts. He agreed with the deputy mayor that the project will enhance many young lives as well as the families of those young people. He further urged the graduating students to put what they had learned into practice so that it would be beneficial in their daily lives.
Also in attendance were the Deputy Director of Economics from the Lilongwe City Council, Gift Kasamira, Chief System Analyst Merium Manyozo, and Economist Vitumbiko Lungu.
In his speech, also appreciated the project which he said will help change lives of the youth, reduce poverty, and help in the economic empowerment of the country.
Ellen Yassin, who spoke on behalf of the Computer Basic and Microsoft Packages class, thanked the organisers for choosing Kauma as one of the implementation areas in her remarks. She also emphasised how short the project’s time frame of one month was and expressed the hope that it will return for phase two.
“During the entrepreneurship programme, we learnt a lot of business skills, including how to create a business plan, make online purchases, and many more. Since we started using social media for promotion and recognition, our methods of operating enterprises have improved,” said entrepreneurship trainee Ruth Mtambo.
The digital skills training took place for 4 weeks while entrepreneurship training run for 2 weeks. Each participant who attended all classes and passed assessments received certificates while some groups will receive grants for their start-ups.