PAST programme builds self-reliant young artisans in Malawi

Malawi: Pathways for Successful Transition (PAST), a Financial Access for Rural Markets, Smallholders, and Enterprise (FARMSE) Programme intervention, has transformed vulnerable, poor, and idle young people into full-fledged artisans capable of creating adorable products that they sell to earn a living, writes Watipaso Mzungu.

One of these young people is Gift Lupunga, 25, of Reuben Gumbo Village in Traditional Authority (TA) Mtwalo in Mzimba District.

Gift, a form three dropout, is now an expert in carpentry and joinery after a successful mentorship at Mayuni Discount Workshop in Enukweni trading centre.

He received MK147,000 in seed money and purchased tools such as a saw, plane, chisel, and hammer to start his own business.

FARMSE is a national development programme that promotes household economic development by providing access to financial services tailored to each socioeconomic level of poverty.

Save the Children, FARMSE's implementing partner identifies young people like Gift to learn skills such as carpentry and joinery, tailoring, and other artisanship through the PAST intervention. The youths are paired with veterans who serve as mentors.

Gift, who has been struggling since his mother's death in 2018, now earns at least MK50,000 per month, which he says allows him to buy food and other necessities. Customers come from Enukweni and the surrounding areas.

He requests more assistance because he wishes to expand his business in order to employ other young people.

Albert Mayuni, Gift's mentor, stated that the young artisan is doing well and has a promising future.

Mayuni appears to have mentored other youths through PAST. According to Mayuni, one of these is furthering his education at Ngara Community Technical College in Karonga District.

Hilda Phiri, 24, of Kenani Shaba Village in TA Mtwalo, shares Gift's gratitude for FARMSE's assistance in turning around her economic fortunes.

In 2021, Hilda completed an eight-month tailoring mentorship. She, like Gift, received MK147,000 and spent some of it on a sewing machine and other accessories to start her own business.

The standard eight dropout and former sand miner sews dresses, school uniforms, curtains, and shirts, among other things, in an enterprise that earns her at least MK50,000 per month. She put some of this money into her vegetable garden, and she is reaping the benefits.

She also belongs to some village banks that FARMSE facilitates through Save the Children, where she saves and borrows money to grow her business.

Hilda intends to expand her business and open a large store in Ekwendeni, her nearest trading centre.