DVV International donates MK21 million tailoring equipment for communities in Ntchisi and Dowa districts

By Dyson Mthawanji – DVV International Communications Officer for Southern Afric

Malawi: DVV International handed over MK21 million in equipment for tailoring training in the districts of Ntchisi and Dowa on Monday, 13 June 2022.

The sewing machines will assist the two districts in rolling out the three-month tailoring training at two centres in each district using a Community Learning Centre (CLC) approach.

DVV International, in collaboration with the National Centre for Literacy and Adult Education (NACLAE), will pilot community education for non-formal adult education learners who have completed adult literacy classes using a CLC approach.

According to David Harrington, DVV International's Regional Director for Southern Africa, the programme aims to empower communities with skills so that they can later maximise their sources of income to fight poverty.

He said: “The programme aims to promote technical and functional skills to adult literacy graduates in the two districts. The programme intends to train 40 adult literacy graduates in four pilot CLCs in the two districts with a focus on tailoring skills and entrepreneurship.”

According to Harrington, the new programme is community-responsive, and such community programmes are critical for rural development. He also stated that communities have the power to direct the direction of their community development work, so a sense of ownership among community members is essential.

CLCs will be established in Traditional Authority (T/A) Kalumo at the Khuwi Trading Centre and Sub T/A Msauka at Chinguluwe in Ntchisi. The training will take place in Dowa at Kachimbwi in T/A Msakambewa and Chimwankhuku in T/A Mkukula.

The communities chosen are those with literacy centres. Tailoring has been chosen as the first vocational skill to be offered.

Harrington thanked the two districts' communities for being patriotic and dedicated to providing suitable venues for this training.

Senior Chief Kalumo praised the programme and DVV International and the NACLAE. He described the programme as a watershed moment in his community's development.

“I am happy that DVV International in partnership with the Ministry of Gender, mainly NACLAE, decided to choose my area for this pilot programme. I will support this programme so that it brings out positive results. The positive results are what will motivate you [DVV international] to replicate this important programme in the remaining areas in Ntchisi and Dowa, and also other districts. This is the kind of programme that the whole of Malawi wants. If we are to develop as a country, we should have more community-based programmes. If our communities develop, it means the whole nation will develop. I will urge all chiefs under me to support this programme because it is our own,” he said.

Aside from tailoring skills, participants will receive complimentary basic entrepreneurship training to help them develop an entrepreneurial mindset and know-how for putting their newly acquired skills to use.

Through entrepreneurship development, learners can not only generate income for themselves but also create jobs for others in the community.

According to Frackson Sefasi, Chairperson of the Ntchisi District Council, most rural people lack income-generating activities; therefore, those who will be trained in tailoring and entrepreneurship skills will have opportunities to diversify their sources of income.

“The trained tailors will be able to earn extra money for daily survival. Most of these people are small-holder farmers. Therefore, the extra money from tailoring will enable them to buy agricultural inputs,” said Sefasi.

Samuel Ziba, NACLAE's Chief Community Development Officer, stated that the CLC approach is consistent with Malawi Agenda 2063.

“DVV International is doing a great work by complementing Malawi Government’s efforts to achieve Malawi Agenda 2063. It is our hope that this good partnership will bear good results for Ntchisi and Dowa districts,” Ziba said.

Through practical training programmes like these, trained individuals gain the necessary skills to lay the groundwork for becoming economically productive, whether in formal employment or self-employment.

The German Federal Ministry for Economic Development Cooperation funds the CLC programme (BMZ).