Salima Central Constituency Parliamentarian Gerald Phiri through his brain child project “Youth and Women Empowerment Project” running in his constituency sponsored 30 youth to undergo a short training course in horticulture at CIH training centre. The 30 youth, 17 female and 13 males were of the age range of 19-27 years identified from different locations in the constituency. Through the project, the parliamentarian aims to impart skills to young people thereby giving them an opportunity to generate income for their living, employ themselves and even employ others through small and medium scale horticulture ventures.

Malawi is an agrarian based country and our economy is agriculture based. For a long time the country has sidelined agriculture as a formal employment sector positioning it as a cultural activity. Even when it comes it vocational training, agriculture has for long not been included. We are happy now that institutions and companies such as CIH have come in to offer serious vocational training in agriculture. Through the training, the youth in my constituency has acquired practical skills in the professional growing of fruits vegetables as well as setting up of commercial nursery units.

During the training, CIH using ATVET and CBTA based training approaches engaged the 30 youths in +Fruit orchard establishment and management +Commercial Fruit Tree Nursery Establishment, Propagation and Management +Commercial Vegetable Production +Spices and herbs production

The parliamentarian through the CDF funds sponsored the 30 youth into a program that run for 3 months. It is expected that more youth from the constituency will be supported to undergo the training as the Youth and Empowerment Program runs until 2024. The MP is further optimistic that if the trained youth will utilize their skills and put them into practice, the district will be blessed with plenty of trees in the future thereby restoring the degenerated biodiversity consequently counteracting the adverse impacts of climate change.

Commenting during graduation which was presided over by the Minister of Youth Honorable Ulemu Msungama MP, one of the graduates Fatima Malinda said the training has been very beneficial to her and urges fellow youth to take advantage of the training once an opportunity to enroll arises. In his remarks, honorable Ulemu Msungama commended the MP for Salima Central Constituency for supporting the youth to attend such a crucial training.