Adult education targets more women

Plans to expand reach for women beneficiaries of adult education programs are in the pipeline as part of an expansion drive by DVV international – Southern Africa.

The plan aims to reach out to more women.

Despite challenges such as funding which is said to be derailing progress in providing adult education across the country, the organization is striving to expand beneficiaries of various vocational trainings.

DVV international for Southern Africa communications officer Dyson Mthawanji highlights that the organization is working with various partners to soon start expanding the number of beneficiaries.

“We hope that stakeholder and the government will increase funding to the sector so that we can reach out to more deserving beneficiaries across the country. Through our observation around some areas around Ndirande and Chilomoni areas in Blantyre, some women have already taken personal initiatives to learn from men who are already skilled in various trades,” Mhawanji said.

Mary Tatseka from Chilomoni hangs around craftsmen at a furniture and joinery shop with an entirely different motive that what most bystanders anticipate. Instead of asking for money, she requests for a chance to be trained in the art.

“I developed interest in the craft works because of my grandfather in the village. However, it is costly to train at a vocational school, that’s why I opt to at least train with the carpenters here,” Tatseka said as she puts a piece of wood away to attend to a customer.

Esther Chatha on the other hand cultivates her interest in metal work craftsmanship through gaining skills from a bucket maker in Ndirande.

“I started last year after discovering that gaining such a skill will allow me to even make braai stands, which by the way are on high demand in many sub-urbs. It’s really profitable.” Chatha explains

However, Chatha worries that she is limited in capacity and knowledge which she can only get from recognized institutions.

Meanwhile, Mthawanji is optimistic that these women will greatly benefit from the program once the expansion starts to take shape.

Malawi is working with other development partners as part of efforts that work towards the realization of the Malawi 2063 Vision with specific focus on the second pillar which looks at industrialisation.