Vocational training | Ntchito Zamanja
Situation
Lack of opportunities after primary education.
Target group
Young adults from 18 to 25 years old.
Approach
Establish a center where young adults can learn a vocation.
Status
Collecting donations for: Building the center.
Education in Malawi
In Malawi, education is not as self-evident and well organized as in the Netherlands. In principal, everyone can go to primary school because it is free. At the end of primary school the students take an exam. Of all the students that pass this exam, only one third with the highest grades can go to secondary school. This is not for free but affordable for families. For the other two third not selected students the only chance for education is a private school. However, these schools are very expensive in Malawi and only the richest families can afford them. At the end of high school the students take another exam. From this only one tenth of the best students are selected to go to university, in Malawi and sometimes abroad. This is again not free, but often affordable. For the other nine tenth of students, the choice of a private university is very difficult. There are less spots available then there are for the private high schools, and it is even more expensive. In total, only three of every hundred students get the chance to go to the university. There are no official other education levels after high school. This lower chance of education is reflected in the achieved educational level of adults in Malawi, as is visualized in the graph below. Aaron, co-founder of this foundation, was selected to study at the university and could do this in Scotland. Read more about his journey in Our story or read further to find out what OneHeartMalawi wants to do for the young adults that did not get the chance to learn a vocation.
At the end of high school, the students are between 17 and 20 years old. Those students that did not get selected do not have any chances or opportunities, and therefore have no future. They lack focus and have nothing to do. These are young adults that are at home with their families and stroll around the villages. Women who do not get the chance to learn a vocation more often become pregnant at a young age or end up in prostitution to earn some income. Aside from the impact this has on these women, this leads to an increase in HIV/AIDS and in the lack of financial means to provide a better future for the newborn children. Young men who do not get the chance to learn a vocation more often end up in the street or get addicted to alcohol and drugs. Unfortunately no job means no income. Social benefits don’t exist in Malawi.
Beroepsopleidingen
Phase 1: Land
Phase 2: Centre
Welding
The second building on the land is intended for welding trainings. In 6 months, the students will gain the knowledge and skills to start their own business or join a company.
Tailoring
Our first focus is the building for tailoring training. In 6 months, the students will gain the knowledge and skills to start their own business or join a company.
Office home
The land will be guarded by a full-time security guard who will also be responsible for the reception. He will be given the opportunity to live here and will receive a salary for his work.
Future buildings
We have plenty of space and ideas to expand. However, maintaining focus is essential for success, which is why we prioritize setting up the first two trainings.
Fence
The wall surrounding the land of almost 150 meters long and 2 meters high is completely finished. Currently a metal gate is being made for the entrance and the openings at the front are being finished with metal.
Phase 3: Material
In the third phase, the tools and materials are purchased to be able to provide the trainings. Keep an eye on our social media or news page for an update on an upcoming collaboration to help offset some of the tooling costs.
The OneHeartMalawi foundation will transport a container to Monkey Bay, Malawi. The container transports supplies and materials for the training centre and for the local community. The container will ultimately be used for the storage of project materials on the project land in Monkey Bay.
We are looking for various items to fill the container. Items that we throw away and nog longer need and that are of great value in Malawi. Our experience is that many people realize that they are lucky with the country in which they are born. They want to help the less fortunate, but often don’t know how. For us, almost everything is available in stores and online, but for the people in Malawi these things are literally very far away. This is the way to contribute.
Here we share the lists per category with materials we need for the training centre in Malawi. Do you have materials from these lists or the associated categories that can go to Malawi? Please contact us at info@oneheartmalawi.com. Are you unsure whether the items are suitable? Send us a picture and we will have a look. Is there nothing you have from this list, but you would like to contribute? Donate here. and make a difference for people in Malawi in a very direct way. 💚
Phase 4: Trainings
The people who are sewing and welding on the photos are not part of the project but show how these professions are practiced in Malawi.
