Cadecom hands over computers to Catholic technical colleges
The Catholic Development Commission in Malawi (CADECOM) of the Episcopal Conference of Malawi (ECM),Thursday this week handed over 25 desktop computers and five printers to five Catholic Technical Colleges under the Hope for Youth project.
At least 3000 youths are set to be enrolled into Catholic Technical Colleges to learn various vocational and entrepreneur skills, thanks
to the financial and technical support from European Union (EU) through Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund (SCIAF) .
Handing over the computers at Thondwe Village Polytechnic in Zomba,ECM Secretary General,Fr. Henry Saindi said the project is targeting youths of all denominations including those living with disabilities and also HIV/Aids.
“The project is aimed at empowering women and vulnerable groups through vocational and entrepreneurship skills education. The project
therefore is promoting equitable and non-gender-biased access and retention in five targeted vocational colleges,” said Fr. Saindi.
Fr. Saindi encourage women to take part in this project as beneficiaries by not being let down that vocational trainings skills are only meant for men.
The Technical Colleges earmarked for the project include Namitete in Lilongwe, Mitengo in Thyolo and Thondwe Village Polytechnic in Zomba.
According to Fr. Saindi the church believes in providing option for the poor and as such its aimed at strengthening the capacities and infrastructures or linkages for the five vocational training colleges.
“We will strive to enhance opportunities especially for female and vulnerable group students in the target areas to complete their vocational education and to secure employment or self-employment, “he
said.
District Youth Officer for Zomba Kettie Mwandira commended the Catholic Church through its development arm, CADECOM for the initiative.
She said the initiative is complementing government’s effort in uplifting the lives of the youth through technical colleges where they are trained various vocational skills.
“As government we are very thankful to the Catholic church in Malawi for its concern over the welfare of the valnurables including the youth.You may wish to note that 70 percent of the population in Malawi is comprised of the youth who are facing several challenges like unemployment,” said Mwandida.
She said the project will provide self employment among the youth hence create jobs for others.
Mwandida challenged the beneficiaries to make good use of the project and utilize it effectively.
Group Village Headman Botomani of Traditional Authority Mulumbe also commended Cadecom for the project saying this will reduce crime rate in various communities where the project is being implemented because youths will have something to keep them busy.
“We commend you because you are not only recruiting young people from your Church but youths of all denominations. Again, we have a lot of disabled people in this area and by considering them in this project,that is commendable indeed,” said Group Village Headman Botoman.
Principal for Mitengo Technical College, Michael Lupiya said as beneficiaries they take care of the computers they have received.
CADECOM is implementing the project with the tune of 1,092,303 Euros
for the period of three years.
