For years, 28-year-old Jessy Paul from Abdul Village in the area of Traditional Authority Mbera in Balaka District lived with uncertainty about her future.
Life was a daily struggle without a stable income, she depended on piecework and small contributions from relatives just to make ends meet.
Today, Jessy’s story is different. After training in tailoring and fashion design at Mbera Community Skills Development Centre under the Technical, Entrepreneurial and Vocational Education and Training Authority (TEVETA), she now earns over K80,000 a month from her sewing business. With every stitch, she is not only clothing her community but also weaving a brighter future for herself.
“I used to struggle even to buy soap, but now I am independent. I pay my own bills, support my family and even save a little for the future,” Jessy said.
Jessy’s transformation reflects the broader impact of TEVETA’s skills training programs, which continue to empower young Malawians across the country.
At a certificate awarding ceremony in Balaka, where 74 graduates received qualifications in trades such as fabrication and welding, carpentry and joinery, bricklaying, and motor mechanics, TEVETA announced an even bigger plan.
Director of Training Programmes, Modestal Gomani, revealed that the authority will soon introduce agriculture, mining, and tourism courses in all TEVETA institutions, community colleges, and skills development centers nationwide.
“This initiative is designed to tackle some of the pressing challenges facing our country while empowering young people to contribute meaningfully to economic growth,” Gomani explained.
Traditional Authority Mbera applauded TEVETA’s efforts, stressing that the program has transformed the lives of many youths who once had no direction.
Balaka District Council’s Director of Administration, Lawrence Kalinga, echoed this, saying the initiative is reshaping not only individual lives but also the face of the council, aligning with Malawi’s development ambitions.
To ensure sustainability, TEVETA has also equipped Mbera Community Skills Development Centre with tools worth K15 million, which will be used to train even more young people.
From struggling to thriving, Jessy is now standing tall proof that with opportunity and training, Malawians can rise above poverty and shape their own futures.
By Smart Chalika
#MBCDigital
#Manthu
