DAPP Launches Skills Training Programme for Youth, Women and Persons with Disabilities

The Development Aid from People to People (DAPP) is set to roll out a 36-month skills development programme targeting young people, women and persons with disabilities in Thyolo, Chiladzulu, Dowa and Mzimba districts.

The initiative will offer training in fashion design, upcycling and recycling, and motorcycle mechanics through DAPP’s Mikolongwe Vocational School and Dowa DAPP Teachers Training College (TTC).

Mikolongwe Vocational School is an accredited Technical, Entrepreneurial and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) provider, while Dowa DAPP TTC will serve as a satellite training centre. The new programme will complement the existing activities at the college.

Presenting the project to the Dowa District Council, DAPP Grants Manager Lansen Chikopa said the informal training programme will equip participants with practical, market-driven skills using a bridging curriculum. He added that the project will provide the necessary equipment and learning materials to support technical skills training at the college.

Chikopa said DAPP will work closely with the Technical, Entrepreneurial and Vocational Education and Training Authority (TEVETA) to ensure compliance with national standards. The collaboration will include participant recruitment and enrolment, curriculum review and adaptation, and the promotion of inclusive training.

In Dowa District alone, the project will support 500 beneficiaries aged between 16 and 29. The package will include accommodation, meals, training materials, equipment and start-up kits. Women will account for 60 percent of participants, while at least five percent will be persons with disabilities.

According to Chikopa, the programme aims to promote inclusive and sustainable economic growth by equipping beneficiaries with employable skills and creating opportunities for decent work and self-employment.

He said the project will initially target young people from the areas of Traditional Authorities Chiwere, Msakambewa and Mkukula in Dowa District.

Chikopa noted that the initiative aligns with the Malawi 2063 First 10-Year Implementation Plan (MIP-1), particularly its focus on human capital development and wealth creation, while also supporting the District Implementation Plan.

“The project is also aligned with the TEVETA policy, which seeks to create a demand-driven, inclusive and market-relevant workforce,” he said.

He added that the project will strengthen TVET institutions by supporting internship programmes, building the capacity of instructors, updating the national TVET curriculum in collaboration with TEVETA, and promoting employability and entrepreneurship.

Speaking during the presentation, Dowa District Council Principal Environmental Officer Yusuf Laki welcomed the initiative, saying it would provide valuable opportunities for young people in the district.

He encouraged eligible youths to take advantage of the programme and urged development partners to regularly share updates on their projects with the council to strengthen coordination, transparency and accountability.

DAPP is implementing the Inclusion and Development Project in partnership with Humana People to People Italia, with financial support from the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS).