LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-To equip young school leavers with skills for personal growth and development, Urban Promise International (UPI) has launched a gap year school leavers program dubbed Lonjezo Scholars Program, aimed at addressing challenges youths awaiting university selection face.
Speaking during the launch, Founder and President of UPI, Dr. Bruce Main, said the program seeks to provide opportunities for secondary school leavers through academic enrichment and preparatory work for university life and education as well as community service.
According to Main, 135 students in gap year have been identified from UPI affiliate schools to be trained in the first cohort which will also run as a pilot for the program.
“We believe this program will prepare our students well for university life. Through the program, these youths will be trained in different areas including research management, research skills, personal finance, career discernment, and generally leadership skills,” he said.
Main added that the program is designed to have a cohort of students for ten months where they will also be required to do volunteer work in different UPI projects in their communities.
According to Main, the scholars will be getting a stipend as a way of motivating them.
He also disclosed that UPI has secured land for a university construction, which upon opening will offer university education to students who fail to secure a place in public universities, on full scholarship.
One of the Directors of UPI-affiliated projects, Rise Malawi Ministries, Dr. Zamumtima Chijere, encouraged the scholars to be intentional and utilize the opportunity to gain practical experience and learn in an intentional and meaningful way to shape their career path.
The first cohort of the program will be implemented in Blantyre, Lilongwe, and Ntchisi.
