A local Christian organization – ZOE Ministry has given out 13 sewing machines and some tailoring materials worth 1.4 million kwacha to some of the orphans and vulnerable young people, in the area of Traditional Authority Chakhaza in Dowa district.
Speaking on Tuesday during the handover ceremony at Madisi Trading centre, Country Director for the organization, Mercy Chikhosi Nyirongo said they decided to give the youths the sewing machines as one way of empowering them financially so that they can be self-reliant.
he year 2010 with the aim of empowering orphans and those who are vulnerable in the district, particularly areas surrounding Madisi trading centre by giving them capital to start businesses of their own choice”. Mrs. Nyirongo said.
Mrs. Nyirongo added that her organization also looks at 797 households in the area with a total of 2461 orphans and vulnerable children.
” We are currently supporting hundreds families within the area with a target on elder children of a family so that once he or she is financially empowered, other members of that family should also benefit”. She added.
Martin Pindamkono who was representing Dowa district Director of Planning and Development appreciated the move taken by the organization in developing lives of young people in the district, saying it is in line with government’s plans for youth development.
”What the organization is doing in the area is just in line with what government wants for the youths in the country and I am advising the beneficiaries of this program to use the opportunity appropriately”. Pindamkono said.
Group village headman for the area also commended the organization for the support, saying the move will prevent most of the vulnerable youths and orphans in the area from engaging in various malpractices as they will be busy doing their own businesses.
” Most of the youths in my area especially those who are vulnerable dropped out of school due to various challenges they were facing and they were just wandering so this development with this development they will have something to do for the betterment of their lives and also the community”. Group Village Nkhafi explained.
”I will therefore ensure that the recipients make good use of the machines for them to be financially independent”. Nkhafi concluded.
The Group Village Headman however urged other organizations in the area to emulate what ZOE ministry has done for youths’ development in the area.
Apart from empowering the youths financially, the organization also focuses on developing spiritual lives, health and sanitation issues and also food security.
