Plan International Malawi

Today, she is a role model in her community, inspiring girls to pursue education and aspire to leadership positions. “International Women’s Day reminds me that girls and women can achieve great things if given the opportunity and the right resources,” she says.

Sarah is a passionate advocate for girls’ education and works to eliminate barriers that prevent girls from accessing learning opportunities. Her journey from volunteer to a leadership position is a testament to her resilience and determination.

Sarah Chipeta is the Programmes and Sponsorship Coordinator. She attended a community day secondary school before graduating from Mzuzu University with a Bachelor of Arts in Education.

To her, International Women’s Month is a time to celebrate progress and reflect on the work ahead. “It is a moment to recognise the strides women have made, while reminding us of the strength women carry as we continue to give to gain,” she says.

She started her career as a Field Officer and has risen through the ranks by continuously learning and challenging herself. “I believe women are capable of achieving greatness,” she says. Kabaghe also supports and mentors young women, encouraging them to pursue their dreams.

Pauline Hlupekire Kabaghe is the Project Manager for the Girl Education for Empowerment (GEE) project in Lilongwe and Kasungu. She oversees the project and works to improve the lives of vulnerable children, especially girls.

He added that there is no limit to what the graduates can achieve and encouraged them to believe in themselves. The Skills and Opportunities for Youth in Malawi-Zantchito (Skills for Jobs) project is funded by the European Union.

SMEDI Business Training Manager Blessings Mwamadi said the knowledge and skills gained during the training are more valuable as they will help the beneficiaries succeed in the long term.

Plan International Malawi Country Coordinator for Skills and Opportunities for Youth Employment and Entrepreneurship (SOYEE), Wellington Limbanga, has encouraged young people under the Zantchito project to work together to ensure their entrepreneurial skills are not wasted.

SMEDI Regional Manager for the Centre, Catherine Malanga, has described the commitment shown by both Plan International Malawi and the participants as commendable, saying all those who took part in the training are winners.

Out of the 50 graduates, 20 young people will receive start-up kits after their business ideas were selected following a pitching process. The incubation training was conducted in partnership with the Small and Medium Enterprise Development Institute (SMEDI).

Plan International Malawi is today awarding certificates to 50 young people who have completed a six-week business incubation training under the Skills and Opportunities for Youth in Malawi- Zantchito(Skills for Jobs) project, funded by the European Union.

Following the completion of the training, the participants are now presenting their business ideas before judges. At the end of the process, the top 20 participants with the most viable and innovative ideas will be selected to receive start-up tools and equipment.

The project has been implementing business incubation activities at SMEDI in Mponela, where participants received training in business idea generation, business management, business plan development, and pitching skills.

Young people from Kasungu and Mzimba are pitching their business ideas under the Employment Skills and Opportunities for Youth in Malawi-Zantchito (Skills for Jobs) project, being implemented by Plan International Malawi.